Beijing loyalist John Lee elected as Hong Kong’s next leader
India Today
John Lee was elected as Hong Kong’s next leader on Sunday. Lee was expected to win, especially since he had Beijing’s endorsement.
John Lee was elected as Hong Kong’s next leader on Sunday, after winning over 99% of votes cast by a largely pro-Beijing election committee.
Lee received 1,416 votes in the chief executive election, far exceeding the 751 votes he needed to win. The Election Committee’s nearly 1,500 members cast their votes in a secret ballot Sunday morning.
As the only candidate in the polls, Lee was expected to win, especially since he had Beijing’s endorsement and last month obtained 786 nominations from members of the Election Committee in support of his candidacy.
Lee will replace current leader Carrie Lam on July 1.
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Lam congratulated Lee in a statement and said she would submit the election results to Beijing.
“The present-term government and I will ensure a seamless transition with the Chief Executive-elect. We will render all the support needed for the assumption of office by the new term of government,” Lam’s statement said.