Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive will be Beijing loyalist John Lee
John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been picked to be the city’s upcoming main executive.
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John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been elected to be Hong Kong’s upcoming chief government.
Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong’s best post, won far more than 1,416 votes in Sunday’s election.
About 1,500 members of a mainly professional-Beijing election committee cast their votes to pick out the new leader. Lee only required a very simple bulk to get.
The 64-year-outdated Lee, who was formerly Hong Kong’s main secretary, will start his 5-12 months term on July 1, replacing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
Hong Kong is a specific administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, when the U.K. handed above the previous colony to Beijing. It is governed below the “one particular state, two programs” framework, and has restricted election legal rights and a primarily individual lawful and financial procedure.
At a press convention after his election, Lee was requested if his general performance will be “challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some folks.”
His reply was that his election was “run in accordance with the regulations of Hong Kong.”
“Anybody, who according to the legislation is experienced, can just take part and run for the election,” he included.
Pointing out that he garnered extra than 1,400 votes, Lee explained: “With that quantity of support, of study course, it encourages me and presents me the powerful assurance that my route is agreed and shared by a good deal of election committee users.”
In a observe past week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing’s preference of Lee as the following Hong Kong leader.
“The selection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a foremost function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that commenced in 2019, indicates that Beijing’s major precedence for Hong Kong is protecting political stability fairly than preserving its role as a dynamic worldwide hub,” they mentioned.
“Lee’s appointment will fortify Hong Kong’s change from becoming a international financial and enterprise heart to actively playing a narrower position as a cash gateway for China,” Eurasia’s analysts stated. “Although the challenges to political and economic balance are modest, Lee’s administration may be improperly geared up to answer to a important shock.”
Covid issues
In line with China’s Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-known as “dynamic zero” system for the virus and imposed demanding actions in January in an attempt to blunt its unfold. The metropolis tightened limitations additional in February as new conditions raged, but commenced easing somewhat in late April.
The election was before postponed because of to a surge in Covid scenarios in the Asian economic hub.
I make it a extremely obvious issue that I’m really conscious of the have to have to be obtainable to the world. And also it is an vital thing for Hong Kong to be ready to resume usual vacation with the mainland.
John Lee
Hong Kong’s incoming chief govt
At the press meeting, Lee was also requested how he will present the worldwide local community that Hong Kong is open for business.
“Indeed, we have troubles now due to the fact of the need to have to manage Covid-19 and some of the actions are indeed making inconvenience,” he acknowledged.
“I make it a really clear position that I’m quite acutely aware of the will need to be accessible to the globe. And also it is an crucial matter for Hong Kong to be capable to resume typical travel with the mainland.”
He reported he will be chatting to his counterparts in Beijing “to discover out what are the ailments that will be demanded for typical journey to be resumed with the mainland.”
Lee also known as on citizens to comply with the guidance and measures of the authorities, and reported the town will seek out to raise its vaccination price. According to govt studies, far more than 91% of the population higher than the age of 12 have gained their very first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their next dose.
Hong Kong’s outgoing chief government Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.
“I increase my sincere congratulations to Mr John Lee on his thriving election,” she reported in a push release. “The present-time period governing administration and I will assure a seamless changeover with the Chief Govt-elect. We will render all the assistance desired for the assumption of office by the new expression of government.”
