HONG KONG (AP) – John Lee was elected the next leader of Hong Kong on Sunday after winning more than 99% of the votes cast by the election commission, which is largely pro-Beijing.
Lee received 1,416 votes in the CEO election, far exceeding the 751 votes he needed to win, and the highest support ever for the city’s top leadership position. Nearly 1,500 election commission members voted in a secret ballot Sunday morning.
“I look forward to all of us starting a new chapter together, building Hong Kong that is caring, open and vibrant, and Hong Kong that is full of opportunity and harmony,” Lee said in his victory speech.
Lee will replace current leader Carrie Lam on July 1.
As the only candidate in the poll, Lee was expected to win, especially after he received Beijing’s support and received 786 nominations from election commission members last month in support of his candidacy.
Lam congratulated Lee in a statement and said he would present the results of the Beijing election.
“The current government and I will ensure a smooth transition with the elected chief executive. “We will provide all the necessary support for taking office until the new term of the government,” Lam said in a statement.
The election followed major changes to Hong Kong’s election laws last year to ensure that only “patriots” loyal to Beijing could take office. The legislature was also reorganized to remove all opposition votes.
The complex arrangements over the predetermined outcome speak to Beijing’s desire to build democracy. Although they voted by secret ballot, all Hong Kong voters were carefully screened.
The Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong also congratulated Lee in a statement, saying the election was “fair, fair and orderly in accordance with the law and regulations.”
“Lee received many nominations and was elected by a large number of 1,416 votes. This is not only a solemn election of the election commission, but also a strong expression of public opinion, “the statement said.
Mainland China’s Hong Kong and Macao Office also congratulated Lee in a statement, saying the “successful election” proved the city’s new electoral system was “good” and in line with the “one country, two systems” framework. which Hong Kong is governed by.
The statement added that the new CEO would lead the Hong Kong government and “people from all walks of life to move forward in unity.”
The British ceded Hong Kong to mainland China in 1997 under the “one country, two systems” framework, which promised the city certain freedoms not found on the continent, including freedom of speech and assembly.
Critics say these freedoms are being undermined as Beijing has exercised greater control over the former British colony in recent years.
On Sunday morning, three members of the League of Social Democrats, a local activist group, protested the election, trying to march to the polls, while displaying a poster calling for universal suffrage that would allow Hong Kong to vote for both the legislature , and for the chief executive.
“Human rights over power, people are bigger than the country,” the banner reads. “One person, one vote for the CEO. Immediately enforce dual universal suffrage. “
A protester handed out flyers before police arrived and tore off protesters and a banner. Police also searched the protesters’ belongings and had taken their personal data, but were not arrested immediately.
The pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong has long insisted on universal suffrage, which they say is promised to the city in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law. This was also a key demand in the protests against the Umbrella Revolution in 2014 and the anti-government demonstrations in 2019.
Lee’s role as Hong Kong’s next leader has raised fears that Beijing may further tighten its grip on Hong Kong. He has spent most of his career in the civil service in the police and security bureau and is an outspoken and staunch supporter of a national security law imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 aimed at eradicating dissent.
Its rise has grown from mass anti-government protests in 2019, which escalated into violent clashes. As security secretary, he oversaw a police campaign to straighten out protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets, and later gathered many of them for arrest later.
More than 150 people have been arrested under the security law, which bans secession, subversion, terrorism and a secret agreement with foreign forces to interfere in the city’s affairs. Almost all prominent pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned, while others are fleeing abroad or intimidated into silence.
Thousands fled the city, with 7.4 million people amid protests in 2019 and the ensuing severe pandemic restrictions, including many professionals and immigrants.
In his election campaign in the weeks leading up to Sunday’s election, Lee vowed to pass long-delayed local legislation to protect against security threats and vowed to increase the supply of housing in the world’s most expensive real estate market.
He also said it would improve the city’s competitiveness and lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s development.
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