John Lee, a loyalist from Beijing, has been appointed as Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive Officer.
Lee, the only candidate for the top post in Hong Kong, won more than 1,416 votes in Sunday’s election. He needed only a simple majority and received more than 750 votes needed.
About 1,500 members of Beijing’s most supportive electoral committee voted to elect a new chief executive. The election was postponed earlier due to an increase in Covid cases in the Chinese city.
Lee, 64, will replace Chief Executive Carrie Lam on July 1, when she begins her five-year term.
“Congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election and in due course today, I will submit a report on the outcome of the election to the Central People’s Government,” outgoing leader Lam said on Sunday.
“The current government and I will ensure that there is a smooth transition between the elected Executive Council. We will do all we can to support the takeover of the new government, ”Lam said in a statement to the media.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China governed under the framework of “one country, two systems”. The city has limited electoral rights and a separate legal and economic system.
“The election of Lee, a police officer who played a key role in undermining the democratic protests that began in 2019, shows that Beijing’s priority in Hong Kong is to maintain political security rather than to maintain its role as a changing country. hub, ”Eurasia Group analysts said last week before the election.
“Lee’s appointment will strengthen Hong Kong’s transformation into a global financial and business center to play a small role as China’s largest gateway,” Eurasia analysts say. “While the risks of political and financial stability are small, Lee’s management may not be well-equipped to respond with shock.”