| Post: | Chief Executive |
| Body: | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |
| Insignia: | Regional Emblem of Hong Kong.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 100px |
| Insigniacaption: | Emblem of Hong Kong |
| Incumbent: | John Lee Ka-chiu |
| Incumbentsince: | 1 July 2022 |
| Residence: | Government House |
| Type: | Head of government |
| Nominator: | Election Committee |
| Appointer: | State Council of the People's Republic of China (Decree signed by Premier)[1] |
| Termlength: | 5 years |
| Constituting Instrument: | Hong Kong Basic Law |
| Salary: | [2] |
| Inaugural: | Tung Chee-hwa |
| Termlength Qualified: | Re-electable for another maximum 5-year term |
| Member Of: | Executive Council |
| Department: | Government of Hong Kong Office of the Chief Executive |
| T: | 香港特別行政區行政長官 |
| S: | 香港特别行政区行政长官 |
| P: | Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū Xíngzhèng Zhǎngguān |
| W: | Hsiang1-kang3 Tʻê4-pieh2 Hsing2-cheng4-chü1 Hsing2-cheng2 Chang3-kuan1 |
| Y: | Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàngjingkēui Hàngjing Jéunggūn |
| Ci: | pronounced as /hœ́ŋ.kɔ̌ŋ tɐ̀k̚.pìt̚ hɐ̏ŋ.tsēŋ.kʰɵ́y hɐ̏ŋ.tsēŋ tsœ̌ŋ.kún/ |
| J: | Hoeng1gong2 Dak6bit6 Hang4zing3keoi1 Hang4zing3 Zoeng2gun1 |
| Also Known As: | Commonly abbreviated as |
| C2: | Chinese: 香港特首 |
| P2: | Xiānggǎng Tèshǒu |
| W2: | Hsianf1-kang3 Tʻê4-shou3 |
| Y2: | Hēunggóng Dahksáu |
| Ci2: | pronounced as /hœ́ŋ.kɔ̌ŋ tɐ̀k̚.sɐ̌u/ |
The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and head of the Government of Hong Kong.[3] The position was created to replace the office of Governor of Hong Kong, the representative of the Monarch of the United Kingdom during British colonial rule.[4] The office, as stipulated by the Hong Kong Basic Law, formally came into being on 1 July 1997 with the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. The Chief Executive is head of the executive branch of the Hong Kong government.
The functions of the chief executive include nominating principal officials for appointment by the State Council of China, which is headed by the premier, conducting foreign relations, appointing judges and other public officers, giving consent to legislation passed by the Legislative Council, and bestowing honours. The Basic Law grants the Chief Executive a wide range of powers, but obliges him or her, before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council, making subsidiary legislation, and dissolving the Legislative Council, to act only after consultation with the Executive Council (all of whose members are the CE's own appointees).[5] The Executive Council consists of official and non-official members, including the Chief Secretary for Administration, the most senior official and head of the Government Secretariat, in charge of overseeing the administration of the Government.
The Chief Executive holds the title "The Honourable", and ranks first in the Hong Kong order of precedence.[6] The official residence of the chief executive is Government House in Central, Hong Kong Island.
The current chief executive is John Lee selected as Chief Executive in the 2022 election, appointed by the Chinese State Council with the designation decree signed by Premier Li Keqiang on 30 May 2022 and took office on 1 July 2022. Lee is the fifth Chief Executive; each of his four predecessors are still living.
According to article 44 of the Basic Law, the Chief Executive must be a Chinese citizen as defined by the HKSAR Passports Ordinance.[7] [8] The individual must be at least 40 years old, a Hong Kong permanent resident who is a Chinese citizen with right of abode in Hong Kong, and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 20 years.[7] Article 47 further requires that the Chief Executive be a person of integrity, dedicated to his or her duties. In addition, candidates are ineligible to stand for selection by the Election Committee without first obtaining nominations from one eighth of its total members.
See main article: Elections in Hong Kong. The specific method for selecting the chief executive is prescribed in Annex I of the Basic Law. The Election Committee shall be composed of 1500 members from the following sectors pursuant to the amended Annex I under the 2021 Hong Kong electoral changes initiated by the National People's Congress. The Election Committee consists of individuals (i.e. private citizens) and representatives of bodies (i.e. special interest groups or corporate bodies) selected or elected by 40 prescribed sub-sectors as stipulated in Annex I to the Basic Law.
See main article: Election Committee. The Election Committee is responsible for the nomination of Chief Executive candidates and election of the Chief Executive-elect. Under the 2021 Hong Kong electoral changes initiated by the National People's Congress, each candidate running for chief executive elections is to be nominated by at least 188 members of the Election Committee, before their eligibility is reviewed and confirmed by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the HKSAR. The Chief Executive-designate is then returned by the Election Committee with an absolute majority.[9]
The Election Committee is now principally elected by body voters. The number of subsectors with individual votes were significantly reduced, together with elimination of mixed individual and body voting:
| width=70% | Sector | width=30% | Members[10] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial, commercial and financial sectors | 300 | ||
| The professions | 300 | ||
| Agricultural, labour, religious, Chinese social and townspeople organisations | 300 | ||
| Members of the Legislative Council, representatives of government and mainlanders' organisations | 300 | ||
| HKSAR deputies to the National People's Congress, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and representatives of Hong Kong members of Chinese national organisations | 300 | ||
| Total | 1,500 |
Chief Executive candidates must receive nominations by at least 188 members of the Election Committee, with nomination by at least 15 members of each sector of the Election Committee. Candidacy is confirmed upon review and confirmation of eligibility by the Candidate Qualification Review Committee, according to opinions issued by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the basis of a review by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force on whether a candidate meets the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law and swearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China.
The Chief Executive-designate is then returned by the Election Committee with an absolute majority in a two-round system:[11]
| Uncontested election | Contested election | |
|---|---|---|
| Election Committee casts votes of support/not support;the chief executive-designate is to be returned with an absolutely majority (>750 valid votes) | Election Committee casts votes for 1 of the candidates; the chief executive-designate is to be returned with an absolute majority (>750 valid votes) | |
| If absolute majority won | If absolute majority not won | |
| Candidate with an absolutely majority of valid votes elected | If:1. more than 2 candidates obtain the highest and the same no. of votes; or 2. no candidates win an absolute majority Then:
| |
The Chief Executive-designate must publicly disaffiliate with a political party within seven days of the election and must not become a member of a party during their term of office.[11] The Chief Executive-designate is then appointed by the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China before taking office.
In the first selection of the chief executive, the committee consisted of only 400 members. It was expanded to 800 for the second term.[12] [13] As a result of enabling legislation stemming from a public consultation in 2010,[14] and its approval by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in Beijing, the number of representatives was increased from 800 to 1200.[15] Following the electoral reform initiated by the Chinese government in 2021 to increase mainland-Chinese controls on Hong Kong, the number of representatives was increased to 1500 but most are appointed or ex-officio seats.
According to article 46 the term of office of the chief executive is five years with a maximum of two consecutive terms. If a vacancy occurs mid-term, the new Chief Executive's first term is for the remainder of the previous Chief Executive's term only. The method of selecting the chief executive is provided under Article 45 and Annex I of the Basic Law, and the Chief Executive Election Ordinance.
Under the Basic Law the Chief Executive is the chief representative of the people of Hong Kong and is the head of the government of Hong Kong. The Chief Executive's powers and functions include leading the government, implementing the law, signing bills and budgets passed by the Legislative Council, deciding on government policies, advising appointment and dismissal of principal officials of the Government of Hong Kong to the Central People's Government of China, appointing judges and holders of certain public offices and to pardon or commute sentences. The position is also responsible for the policy address made to the public.
The chief executive's powers and functions are established by article 48 of the Basic Law.
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is an organ for assisting the chief executive in policy-making.[16] The council is consulted before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council, making subordinate legislation or dissolving the Legislative Council.
Article 52 of the Basic Law stipulates that the Chief Executive must resign when:
See main article: Impeachment and no-confidence motions in Hong Kong.
The Legislative Council has the power to propose a motion of impeachment of the chief executive for decision by the Central People's Government of China, with the following steps as stipulated in article 73(9) of the Basic Law:[17]
The acting and succession line is spelled out in article 53. If the chief executive is not able to discharge his or her duties for short periods (such as during overseas visits), the duties would be assumed by the chief secretary for administration, the financial secretary or the secretary for justice, by rotation, in that order, as acting chief executive. In case the position becomes vacant, a new chief executive would have to be selected.[18]
Prior to the handover in 1997, the office of the Chief Executive-designate was at the seventh floor of the Asia Pacific Finance Tower.[19] When Tung Chee-hwa assumed duty on 1 July 1997, the office of the Chief Executive was located at the fifth floor of the Former Central Government Offices (Main Wing).[20] In the past the governor had his office at Government House. Tung did not use Government House as the primary residence because he lived at his own residence at Grenville House.[21] Donald Tsang decided to return to the renovated Government House during his first term, and moved in on 12 January 2006, for both his office and residence.[22] In 2011, the office of the Chief Executive moved to the low block of the new Central Government Complex in Tamar. Government House continues to serve as the official residence of the Chief Executive.
Upon retirement, former Chief Executives have access to office space at the Office of Former Chief Executives, 28 Kennedy Road.[23] The office provides administrative support to former Chief Executives to perform promotional, protocol-related, or any other activities in relation to their former official role. The activities include receiving visiting dignitaries and delegations, giving local and overseas media interviews, and taking part in speaking engagements.[24] A chauffeur-driven car is provided to discharge promotional and protocol-related functions.
Depending on police risk assessment, personal security protection is provided. Former Chief Executives also enjoy medical and dental care.[25]
Former Chief Executives hold the title "The Honourable", and ranks third in the Hong Kong order of precedence.
Remuneration for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong is among the highest in the world for a political leader, and only second to that of the prime minister of Singapore. The pay level took a cue from the handsome amounts paid to the city's colonial governors – worth $273,000 per annum plus perks in 1992.[26]
In 2005, Tung Chee Hwa received some HK$3 million ($378,500) in pay as Chief Executive. From 2009 until the end of 2014, the salary for the job stood at HK$4.22 million. In January 2015, Leung Chun-Ying reversed a pay freeze imposed in 2012, resulting in its increase to HK$4.61 million ($591,000).[27]
In July 2017, directors of bureaux (DoBs) were approved to have a 12.4% pay rise and the 3.5% pay differential between secretaries of departments (SoDs) and DoBs remained,[28] indicating a new annual pay of approximately HK$5 million for the city's leading role because the Chief Executive received a salary of 112% of the Chief Secretary. The new salary of Chief Executive of Hong Kong is about thirty-nine times more than the annual salary of President of China.[29]
Since the Chief Executive is directly appointed by the Central People's Government of China[30] after an election by a committee of 1,500 people selected by the Chinese Government, rather than the general population,[31] many people, in particular the pro-democrats, have criticised the office as undemocratic, and have criticised the entire election process as a "small-circle election." Former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has even stated that the election's result is a non-binding one, saying that the Chinese government would refuse to appoint the winning candidate if that person was unacceptable to them.[32]
Many events, including the Five Constituencies Referendum in 2010, Umbrella Revolution in 2014 and Anti-Extradition Movement during 2019–20, have attempted to push for greater democracy and universal suffrage.[33]
In January 2015, when Leung Chun-Ying reversed a pay freeze imposed on the chief executive and senior civil servants in 2012, he was accused of granting himself a pay rise by stealth and going against the trend of top politicians taking pay cuts instead of pay increases.[27]
In July 2021, Carrie Lam refused to remove the legal immunity of the Chief Executive in anti-bribery legislation, stating that the officeholder has to be accountable to the Beijing government and hence, extending such provisions to CE would 'sabotage its superior constitutional status'. She was accused of positioning herself above the law whilst going against the principles of separation of power and rule of law.[34]
| № | Portrait | width=180px | Name Chinese name (Birth–Death) | Term of office Duration in years and days | Election | Political alignment | Term | Government (supporting parties) | Appointer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tung Chee-hwa Chinese: 董建華(born 1937) | 1997 | 2005 | 1996 | Pro-Beijing | 1 | Tung I (DAB • LP) | Li Peng | [35] | ||
| 2002 | 2 | Tung II (DAB • FTU • LP • TA) | Zhu Rongji | [36] | |||||||
| 2 | Donald Tsang Chinese: 曾蔭權(born 1944) | 21 June 2005 | 30 June 2012 | 2005 | Pro-Beijing | Tsang I (DAB • FTU • LP • TA) | Wen Jiabao | [37] | |||
| 2007 | 3 | Tsang II (DAB • LP • FTU • TA • ES) | [38] | ||||||||
| 3 | Leung Chun-ying Chinese: 梁振英(born 1954) | 1 July 2012 | 30 June 2017 | 2012 | Pro-Beijing | 4 | Leung (DAB • FTU • BPA • NPP • LP) | [39] | |||
| 4 | Carrie Lam Chinese: 林鄭月娥(born 1957) | 1 July 2017 | 30 June 2022 | 2017 | Pro-Beijing | 5 | Lam (DAB • BPA • FTU • LP • NPP) | Li Keqiang | [40] | ||
| 5 | John Lee Chinese: 李家超(born 1957) | 1 July 2022 | Incumbent | 2022 | Pro-Beijing | 6 | Lee (DAB • FTU • BPA • NPP • LP) | [41] | |||
| # | Chief Executive | Born | Age at | Age at | timespan | Lifespan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died | Age | ||||||||
| 1 | data-sort-value="Tung, Chee-hwa" | Tung Chee-hwa | (Living) | ||||||
| 2 | data-sort-value="Tsang, Donald" | Donald Tsang | (Living) | ||||||
| 3 | data-sort-value="Leung, Chun-ying" | Leung Chun-ying | (Living) | ||||||
| 4 | data-sort-value="Lam, Carrie" | Carrie Lam | (Living) | ||||||
| 5 | data-sort-value="Lee, John" | John Lee | (Pending) | (Living) | |||||
HKEX: