John Lee, a Beijing Loyalist is Hong Kong next leader

By Our Special Correspondent

John Lee was elected as Hong Kong's next leader Sunday by an election committee comprised of nearly 1,500 largely pro-Beijing members.

Mr. Lee received 1,416 votes in the chief executive election, far exceeding the 751 votes needed to win. More than 97% of the Election Committee cast their votes in a secret ballot Sunday morning.

He will replace current leader Carrie Lam on July 1. Her five-term was marked by huge pro-democracy protests calling for her resignation, a security crackdown that has quashed virtually all dissent, the recent COVID-19 wave that had overwhelmed the health system — events that have undermined Hong Kong’s reputation as an international business hub with Western-style freedoms.