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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to pick out the brand new leader. Lee only wanted 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, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a special administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's ruled below the "one country, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a significant overhaul last 12 months after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate town.

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

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

"Anybody, who according to the law is certified, can participate and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of help, after all, it encourages me and provides me the sturdy confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by lots of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

In a be aware last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong chief.

"The number of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019, indicates that Beijing's high precedence for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety relatively than preserving its role as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a worldwide financial and business center to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts said. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration may be poorly geared up to reply to a major shock."

Consistent 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 to blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions further in February as new circumstances raged, but started easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear level that I'm very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

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

"Sure, we have challenges now because of the necessity to management Covid-19 and a number of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear level that I am very conscious of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is an important factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

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

Lee also known as on residents to follow the recommendation and measures of the government, and mentioned town will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. Based on authorities statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have acquired their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief govt 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 government and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all of the support needed for the assumption of office by the new term of government."

Correction: This story has been up to date to reflect that John Lee won 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief govt election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that figure.