Hong Kong’s next Chief Govt shall be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the one candidate for Hong Kong's prime publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top submit, gained 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to select the new chief. Lee solely wanted a easy majority to win.

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

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one country, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate authorized and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went through a major overhaul final year after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" should be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was requested if his performance will likely be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some people."

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

"Anyone, who based on the law is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of assist, of course, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my route is agreed and shared by a lot of election committee members."

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been picked to be the town's subsequent chief govt.

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety slightly than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and business center to taking part in a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "While the risks to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly equipped to reply to a significant shock."

Consistent with 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 attempt to blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a result of a surge in Covid circumstances in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a really clear point that I am very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

At the press conference, Lee was also requested how he'll present the international community that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Yes, we have now challenges now due to the need to management Covid-19 and a number of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular travel with the mainland."

He stated he will probably be talking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the situations that shall be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also known as on citizens to observe the recommendation and measures of the government, and stated town will seek to spice up its vaccination charge. In line with authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

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

"I lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The current-term government and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all of the assist wanted for the belief of office by the new time period of presidency."

Correction: This story has been up to date to replicate that John Lee gained 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief executive election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that determine.