Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Government will probably be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief government.

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime post, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick the brand new leader. Lee only wanted a simple majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong's chief secretary, will begin his five-year term on July 1, replacing outgoing Chief Govt Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Ok. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is ruled under the "one country, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a largely separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a significant overhaul last year after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to control town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his efficiency will be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some individuals."

His reply was that his election was "run in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong."

"Anybody, who in response to the regulation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Declaring that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the strong confidence that my path is agreed and shared by numerous election committee members."

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been picked to be the city's next chief executive.

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

In a notice last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the following Hong Kong leader.

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety moderately than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business heart to taking part in a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly outfitted to reply to a serious shock."

According to China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" strategy for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, however began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed resulting from a surge in Covid cases in the Asian monetary hub.

I make it a really clear level that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he'll present the international community that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Sure, we have now challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and a few of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He mentioned he might be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the circumstances that shall be required for regular journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also referred to as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and mentioned town will seek to boost its vaccination price. In line with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief govt Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all of the help wanted for the belief of office by the new term of presidency."

Correction: This story has been updated to mirror that John Lee received 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief government election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that figure.