Hong Kong’s next Chief Government will 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 Photos

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

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

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

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

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the former colony to Beijing. It is governed under the "one country, two programs" framework, and has restricted election rights and a mostly separate authorized and financial system.

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

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

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

"Anyone, who in accordance with the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee said: "With that number of support, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my route is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

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

Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

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

"The choice of Lee, a career police officer who performed a leading function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's top precedence for Hong Kong is maintaining political safety rather than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

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

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique 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 cases raged, however began easing barely in late April.

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

I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the need to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press convention, Lee was also requested how he will show the worldwide group that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we now have challenges now because of the necessity 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'm very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

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

Lee also known as on residents to observe the recommendation and measures of the federal government, and said the town will search to spice up its vaccination charge. Based on government statistics, more than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have received 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 lengthen my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his profitable election," she stated in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I will guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all of the assist needed for the belief of office by the brand new term of government."

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