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Chinese language President Xi Jinping has met with Hong Kong’s subsequent chief in Beijing, telling John Lee he has the complete belief of the central authorities, state media stated Monday.
Lee travelled to the capital on Saturday to obtain Beijing’s blessing as he prepares to take workplace in a month.
The 64-year-old former safety chief, who oversaw a crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy motion, was chosen as the following chief government by a small committee of Beijing loyalists in early Might.
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“I imagine that the administration of the brand new authorities will certainly convey forth a brand new ambiance, and compose a brand new chapter in Hong Kong’s improvement,” Xi stated, in response to official information company Xinhua.
Lee will assume workplace on July 1, which is the twenty fifth anniversary of Hong Kong’s switch from British to Chinese language rule and the midway level of its “One Nation, Two Programs” political mannequin.
Hong Kong has by no means been a democracy — the supply of years of public frustration and protests — however China agreed that Hong Kong might keep sure freedoms and autonomy for 50 years after its handover.
In line with Xinhua, Xi stated Lee has the “braveness to take duty” and “had made contributions to safeguarding nationwide safety and Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability”.
“The central authorities absolutely affirms and absolutely trusts you,” Xi added.
Lee was the only real candidate within the race to succeed outgoing chief Carrie Lam at a time when Hong Kong is being remoulded in China’s authoritarian picture.
In line with a press release from the Hong Kong authorities, Lee stated within the assembly that he was “deeply honoured by the appointment and absolutely conscious of the nice duty upon me”.
He promised to “unite all sectors” and convey the federal government and folks collectively to “try for the well-being of Hong Kong and its folks”.
“Collectively, we are going to construct Hong Kong right into a metropolis with long-term prosperity and a caring and inclusive society,” he added.
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China imposed a nationwide safety regulation on Hong Kong that has clamped down on dissent after widespread and generally violent pro-democracy protests rocked town in 2019.
The elevation of Lee, who’s beneath US sanctions, locations a safety official in Hong Kong’s prime job for the primary time after a tumultuous few years for a metropolis battered by the unrest and economically debilitating pandemic controls.
Lee spent 35 years within the police earlier than leaping to the federal government in 2012, serving within the Safety Bureau after which main it earlier than changing into town’s quantity two official final 12 months.
He received the highest function this month with greater than 99 p.c of votes from the 1,461-member committee.
Beneath the slogan “Beginning a brand new chapter for Hong Kong collectively”, Lee has vowed to herald “result-oriented” governance, forge unity and reboot town’s financial system.
Insiders advised AFP on the time of Lee’s choice that his unwavering dedication received China’s confidence when different Hong Kong elites had been seen as insufficiently loyal or competent.
This month international locations together with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the US joined the European Union in voicing alarm over the choice course of for the brand new chief, which they referred to as a “continued assault on political pluralism and basic freedoms”.
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However Beijing hailed the method as “an actual demonstration of democratic spirit” and stated it was the end result of a method to make sure solely “patriots” run Hong Kong.
Outgoing chief Lam is on observe to go away workplace with record-low approval scores.
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