Add Category
Hong Kong: John Lee was elected as Hong Kong’s next leader Sunday by an election committee comprised of nearly 1500 largely pro-Beijing members.
Lee received 1416 votes in the chief executive election, far exceeding the 751 votes needed to win. More than 97 per cent of the Election Committee cast their votes in a secret ballot on Sunday morning. Eight voted to “not support” him.
John Lee, former No. 2 official in Hong Kong and the only candidate for the city’s top job, celebrates with his wife after declaring his victory in the chief executive election of Hong Kong on Sunday.Credit:AP
As the only candidate in the polls, Lee was expected to win, especially since he has 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.
The election on Sunday follows major changes to Hong Kong’s electoral laws last year to ensure that only “patriots” loyal to Beijing can hold office. The legislature was also reorganised to all but eliminate opposition voices.
Loading
The elaborate arrangements surrounding the pre-determined outcome speak to Beijing’s desire for a veneer of democracy. Though they will vote in a secret ballot, Hong Kong’s electors have all been carefully vetted.
On Sunday morning, three members of the League of Social Democrats, a local activist group, protested the election by attempting to march toward the election venue while displaying a banner demanding universal suffrage that would allow Hong Kongers to vote both for the legislature and the chief executive.
“Human rights over power, the people are greater than the country,” the banner read. “One person, one vote for the chief executive. Immediately implement dual universal suffrage.”