Hong Kong’s subsequent Chief Govt can be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's high publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a serious overhaul last yr after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" ought to be allowed to control the town.

At a press conference after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency shall be "challenged by the shortage of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some folks."

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

"Anyone, who in accordance with the law is qualified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Mentioning that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that variety of assist, of course, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my course is agreed and shared by a number 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 final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's choice of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong leader.

"The number of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a leading role in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety slightly than preserving its position as a dynamic international hub," they said.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a global financial and business middle to playing a narrower position as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to answer a significant shock."

In keeping with China's Covid-19 policy, 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. Town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however began easing slightly in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware of the must be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

At the press convention, Lee was additionally asked how he will present the international group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we've got challenges now due to the need to control Covid-19 and some of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very conscious of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He stated he will probably be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the conditions that will probably be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on residents to observe the advice and measures of the federal government, and mentioned town will seek to boost its vaccination charge. In accordance with government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received 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 profitable election," she stated in a press release. "The present-term authorities and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the support wanted for the idea of office by the brand new term of government."

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