“John Lee was elected by the ‘Rubber stamp election'”
The New York Times (NYT) described the results of the Hong Kong Chief Executive elections held on the 8th as follows: A strong man from the police, that is, former political secretary John Li (Chinese name Li Jiachao, 65), a hard-line pro-Chinese politician, was elected with an overwhelming majority of 99.2% of the votes in the election. The New York Times focused on the fact that he had been selected by China and ran as a sole proprietor. As a result of changing the electoral system so that only pro-Chinese people can run for election in March last year, it was feared that only the Communist Party of China might come to power and the situation in China, where almost 100% of the votes were in favor, was repeated in Hong Kong.
In his election speech, Lee said he would not neglect anti-Chinese activities, saying, “We will uphold the rule of law and protect Hong Kong from internal and external threats.” After Hong Kong returned to Hong Kong in 1997, a person with a history of ruthlessly suppressing anti-Chinese protests in Hong Kong, where bureaucrats took turns in power, became the first police chief. He has been subject to US sanctions since 2020 for having no administrative and financial experience and playing a leading role in enforcing the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020. appears to intensify.
At the time of returning Hong Kong, China promised Britain that it would “guarantee ‘one country, two systems’ for 50 years and directly elect a chief executive representing 7.4 million Hong Kong people.” However, the promise of direct system failed, and it is analyzed that China’s direct rule has also begun in earnest with this election.
○ ‘Changing Flag Election’ predicted to win
Lee received 1,416 votes (99.2%) in the vote with 1,428 out of 1,461 electoral votes. The opposition was only 8 votes. He will be appointed Chief Executive for a five-year term on July 1 this year, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong, the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, and the second anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong Security Law. According to Archyde.com, regarding 6,000 police officers were deployed around the Hong Kong Convention Center, the voting site. It was a strict atmosphere, with 7,000 police officers waiting in the vicinity.
Analysts say that the approval rate of 99.2%, which is difficult to understand in a democratic country, was predicted when the electoral system was reformed last year. In the past, in the presidential election, even pro-Chinese officials competed with each other to achieve a form of democracy, but this time it means that even such an assortment has disappeared. In the election five years ago, incumbent Minister Carrie Lam met with former finance chief John Chang and former High Court Judge Wu Quang Hing, winning 65.6 percent of the vote. The British Financial Times (FT) criticized the election, which had no competitors, as “fat and deceit”. In fact, interest was also lower than in any previous election, with a significant number of Hong Kong citizens responding, “I didn’t even know there was an election today.”
○ As Hong Kong accelerates its Chineseization
Li, who entered the police force in 1977, was appointed the chief of police in 2017, and was appointed as the chief of the police department. He also led the enactment and enforcement of the Hong Kong security law in 2020 and the closing of the anti-Chinese media Pingguo Daily last year.
When he takes office, it is certain that he will enact the Hong Kong version of the national security law and re-promote the extradition law. China has consistently pressured Hong Kong authorities to introduce a separate national security law to complement the current security law, which can only punish four crimes: division of the state, subversion, terrorism and security threats colluded with a foreign country.
Anxiety is also growing among the Hong Kong financial community and foreign entrepreneurs who have entered Hong Kong. “Lee is the first Hong Kong leader with no business experience,” Tara Joseph, former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, told AFP. He pointed out that while the world is easing policies to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, Hong Kong is also putting a lot of restrictions on immigration in line with China’s strong quarantine policy.
Beijing = Correspondent Kim Ki-yong kky@donga.com
Reporter Lee Chae-wan chaewani@donga.com
