Lee will replace Carrie Lam, who has been Hong Kong's Prime Minister since 2017.

He went to the polls with the slogan: "Together we open a new chapter in Hong Kong" and promised, among other things, a restart for the city's economy.

64-year-old John Lee was thus the sole candidate and received 99 percent, or 1,416 of a total of 1,461 votes, from the Beijing-friendly election committee that elects leaders.

Since 2020, China has been in control of the electoral system in the formerly largely autonomous Hong Kong.

Only people who are loyal to the Communist Party may hold political office.

Thousands of police

According to a March poll, 24 percent of Hong Kong people trusted Lee.

12 percent stated that they had confidence in Representative Carrie Lam.

During election day, the polling station was guarded by about 7,000 police officers, local media reports.

Three people from a pro-democratic party protested outside the polling stations and shouted slogans such as "Power for the people" and "Free suffrage".

"We know that our protest will have no effect, but we do not want Hong Kong to be completely without a voice," said Vanessa Chan, one of the protesters.

The police searched the protesters' belongings, but no one was arrested.

Takes over in July

The EU condemns China's appointment of John Lee, through Secretary of State Josep Borrell.

The union "regrets" such a violation of "democratic principles and political diversity", Borrell said in a formal statement.

He describes it as another clear departure from the principle of "One country, two systems" that will apply between China and Hong Kong under the 1997 surrender agreement.

On Sunday, Carrie Lam congratulated the new leader and assured that she will provide the support needed to make the shift as smooth as possible.

John Lee will take over the leadership on July 1.

Lee is known for being responsible for the Hong Kong police's crackdown on the major democracy protests three years ago.

He is described as a man who made a class trip from the working class to the top echelons of Hong Kong.