Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 1996
Encyclopedia
The first ever Hong Kong chief executive election was held on 11 December 1996. Since Hong Kong
was then a British colony, election for the first Chief Executive
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
was held by the People's Republic of China
authorities in Hong Kong.
.
On December 11, 1996 a 400-member HK SAR Selection Committee
(推選委員會) was voting for a Chief executive
to rule Hong Kong after the 1997 handover
. Pro-democracy activists including Emily Lau
, Andrew Cheng
, Lee Cheuk-yan scuffled with riot police outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
. A "Tomb
of democracy" was established outside the building shouting "oppose the phony election". The activists were detained and dragged away by the police for four hours.
The election was conducted by the electoral college
of a massive 400-member committee with all the positions rubber-stamped by the Chinese Government
. However, Hong Kong has never had a leader elected by universal suffrage
before. All of Tung's British predecessors were all appointed by the British Crown, without recourse to any false pretense of democracy as in the present system.
To contradict, leading Chinese politicians always claimed that the Chief executive would not be chosen by Beijing and that he or she must be acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
100 million loan. Tung was installed as the Chief executive, but the next few years to follow were compounded with serious social problems including Right of abode
, Asian financial crisis, bird flu pandemic and a host of other issues.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
was then a British colony, election for the first Chief Executive
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
was held by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
authorities in Hong Kong.
History
By January 1996 most observers expected Tung Chee-hwa to be the front-runner of the election with a great deal of support from influential business tycoon Henry FokHenry Fok
Henry Fok Ying Tung was a Hong Kong businessman. He has ancestral roots in Nansha, Panyu, now part of Guangzhou, Guangdong). Fok was the vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of PRC since March 1993, and was possibly the most powerful...
.
On December 11, 1996 a 400-member HK SAR Selection Committee
Election Committee
The Election Committee is an 800-member electoral college in the politics of Hong Kong. It was established by Annex I of the Basic Law of Hong Kong. This article defines the method of electing the Chief Executive. It is renewed every five years when the sitting Chief Executive's term has expired...
(推選委員會) was voting for a Chief executive
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
to rule Hong Kong after the 1997 handover
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
. Pro-democracy activists including Emily Lau
Emily Lau
Emily Lau Wai-hing JP is one of two vice-chairmen of Democratic Party.She was the convenor of The Frontier...
, Andrew Cheng
Andrew Cheng
Andrew Cheng Kar Foo BA, MA, MEd, PCLL is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the New Territories East geographical constituency. He was a founder member of the Democratic Party, a member of Southern District Council between 1994 to 1999...
, Lee Cheuk-yan scuffled with riot police outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong, along with AsiaWorld-Expo. It is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island. Built along the Victoria Harbour, it is linked by covered walkways to nearby hotels and commercial...
. A "Tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
of democracy" was established outside the building shouting "oppose the phony election". The activists were detained and dragged away by the police for four hours.
The election was conducted by the electoral college
Election Committee
The Election Committee is an 800-member electoral college in the politics of Hong Kong. It was established by Annex I of the Basic Law of Hong Kong. This article defines the method of electing the Chief Executive. It is renewed every five years when the sitting Chief Executive's term has expired...
of a massive 400-member committee with all the positions rubber-stamped by the Chinese Government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
. However, Hong Kong has never had a leader elected by universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
before. All of Tung's British predecessors were all appointed by the British Crown, without recourse to any false pretense of democracy as in the present system.
To contradict, leading Chinese politicians always claimed that the Chief executive would not be chosen by Beijing and that he or she must be acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
The 4 major candidates
- Simon Li Fook-sean (李福善) - former judge
- Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) - business man
- Yang Ti-liangYang Ti-liangDato Seri Paduka Sir Ti-liang Yang, GBM, SPMB, JP , also known as Sir TL, is a retired senior judge in Hong Kong...
(楊鐵樑) - Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 1988 to 1996 - Peter Woo Kwong-chingPeter WooPeter Woo Kwong Ching GBS, JP MBA is Chairman of Wheelock and Company Limited and The Wharf Holdings Limited.-Education and career:...
(吳光正) - business man
Others
- Au Yuk-lun (區玉麟)
- To-sum (杜森)
- Choi Ching-kui (蔡正矩)
- Yu Hon-bui (余漢彪)
Result
In early 1997 Tung Chee-hwa was elected with 320 votes out of 398 valid votes. Tung won a landslide victory over three other major candidates in the election for the post of Hong Kong's first Chief Executive. The Chief Executive was selected by the 400-member Selection Committee.| English Name | Chinese Name | Votes |
|---|---|---|
Tung Chee-hwa  |
董建華 | 320 |
| Yang Ti-liang Yang Ti-liang Dato Seri Paduka Sir Ti-liang Yang, GBM, SPMB, JP , also known as Sir TL, is a retired senior judge in Hong Kong... |
楊鐵樑 | 42 |
| Peter Woo Peter Woo Peter Woo Kwong Ching GBS, JP MBA is Chairman of Wheelock and Company Limited and The Wharf Holdings Limited.-Education and career:... |
吳光正 | 36 |
Aftermath
Tung was mostly chosen by the PRC due to his business background as well as owing Beijing for saving him from bankruptcy with a US $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100 million loan. Tung was installed as the Chief executive, but the next few years to follow were compounded with serious social problems including Right of abode
Right of abode issue, Hong Kong
The right of abode in Hong Kong is the right to legally reside in Hong Kong and was governed by rules both under British and Chinese administration. As the People's Republic of China stood to resume sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the nationality of Hong Kongers as well as their right of abode...
, Asian financial crisis, bird flu pandemic and a host of other issues.