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

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

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

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

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

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee cast their votes to select the brand new chief. 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 particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.K. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It's governed under the "one country, two methods" framework, and has restricted election rights and a principally separate legal and economic system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a serious overhaul final 12 months after Beijing mentioned that solely so-called "patriots" must be allowed to manipulate the city.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his performance can be "challenged by the dearth 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."

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

Pointing out that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee mentioned: "With that variety of assist, of course, it encourages me and gives me the robust confidence that my route is agreed and shared by quite a lot of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Photos

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

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

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise middle to playing a narrower role as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts stated. "While the risks to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly equipped to reply to a serious shock."

In step 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 try to blunt its unfold. The town tightened restrictions additional in February as new instances raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

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

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief executive

On the press convention, Lee was also asked how he will present the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we've got challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and a number of the measures are certainly creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

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

He stated he shall be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to seek out out what are the circumstances that might be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally known as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the federal government, and mentioned the city will seek to spice up its vaccination rate. In accordance with government 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 executive Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I lengthen my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she said in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I'll ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We will render all of the support needed for the belief of office by the brand new term of presidency."

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