John Lee was elected as Hong Kong’s subsequent chief on Sunday, after profitable over 99% of votes forged by a largely pro-Beijing election committee.

Lee acquired 1,416 votes within the chief government election, far exceeding the 751 votes he wanted to win. The Election Committee’s almost 1,500 members forged their votes in a secret poll Sunday morning.

As the one candidate within the polls, Lee was anticipated to win, particularly since he had Beijing’s endorsement and final month obtained 786 nominations from members of the Election Committee in help of his candidacy.

Lee will exchange present chief Carrie Lam on July 1.

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Lam congratulated Lee in an announcement and stated she would submit the election outcomes to Beijing.

“The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We are going to render all of the help wanted for the belief of workplace by the brand new time period of presidency,” Lam’s assertion stated.

The election adopted main adjustments to Hong Kong’s electoral legal guidelines final yr to make sure that solely “patriots” loyal to Beijing can maintain workplace. The legislature was additionally reorganized to all however remove opposition voices.

The flowery preparations surrounding the pre-determined end result converse to Beijing’s need for a veneer of democracy. Although they voted in a secret poll, Hong Kong’s electors had been all rigorously vetted.

Mainland China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Workplace of the State Council additionally congratulated Lee in an announcement, saying the “profitable election” proved that town’s new electoral system is “good” and consistent with the “one nation, two techniques” framework that Hong Kong is ruled by.

The assertion added that the brand new chief government will lead the Hong Kong authorities and “individuals from all walks of life to forge forward in unity.”

The British handed Hong Kong over to mainland China in 1997 beneath the “one nation, two techniques” framework, which promised town sure freedoms not discovered on the mainland, together with freedom of speech and meeting.

Critics say these freedoms are being eroded as Beijing has exerted higher management over the previous British colony in recent times.

On Sunday morning, three members of the League of Social Democrats, a neighborhood activist group, protested the election by making an attempt to march towards the election venue whereas displaying a banner demanding common suffrage that might permit Hong Kongers to vote each for the legislature and the chief government.

“Human rights over energy, the persons are higher than the nation,” the banner learn. “One individual, one vote for the chief government. Instantly implement twin common suffrage.”

One protester was handing out flyers earlier than police arrived and cordoned off the protesters and the banner. Police additionally searched protesters’ belongings and took down their private particulars, although no arrests had been instantly made.

The professional-democracy camp in Hong Kong has lengthy demanded common suffrage, which they are saying is promised to town in its mini-constitution, the Fundamental Legislation. It was additionally a key demand within the 2014 Umbrella Revolution protests and 2019 anti-government demonstrations.

Lee’s function as Hong Kong’s subsequent chief has sparked concern that Beijing might additional tighten its grip on Hong Kong. He spent most of his civil service profession within the police and safety bureau, and is an outspoken and staunch supporter of a nationwide safety regulation imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 aimed toward stamping out dissent.

His rise grew out of huge anti-government protests in 2019 that spiraled into violent clashes. As safety secretary, he oversaw the police marketing campaign to confront protesters with tear fuel and rubber bullets, then rounded lots of them up for arrest later.

Greater than 150 individuals have been arrested beneath the safety regulation, which outlaws secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with international forces to intervene within the metropolis’s affairs. Virtually all distinguished pro-democracy activists have been jailed, with others fleeing overseas or being intimidated into silence.

1000's of residents have left town of seven.4 million individuals amid the 2019 protests and subsequent harsh pandemic restrictions, together with many professionals and expatriates.

In his election marketing campaign within the weeks main as much as Sunday’s polls, Lee pledged to enact long-shelved native laws to guard in opposition to safety threats and vowed to extend housing provide on the earth’s most costly actual property market.

He additionally stated he would enhance town’s competitiveness and set a agency basis for Hong Kong’s growth.

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