Leung government

Last updated

Leung Chun-ying Government
Regional Emblem of Hong Kong.svg
4th Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
CY Leung 2013.jpg
Date formed1 July 2012 (2012-07-01)
Date dissolved30 June 2017 (2017-06-30)
People and organisations
Head of state Hu Jintao (until 2013)
Xi Jinping (since 2013)
Head of government Leung Chun-ying
No. of ministers15 (until 2015)
16 (since 2015)
Member parties DAB, FTU, BPA, NPP, LP
Status in legislature Pro-Beijing majority
Opposition party Pan-democracy camp
History
Election 2012 Chief Executive election
Legislature terms 4th Legislative Council
5th Legislative Council
6th Legislative Council
Predecessor Second Tsang government
Successor Lam government

The administration of Leung Chun-ying as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, officially referred to as "The 4th term Chief Executive of Hong Kong" relates to the period of governance of Hong Kong since the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2017.

Contents

Election

During the Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2012, CY Leung secured a majority of the 1,132 votes cast by Election Committee members. Leung received 689 votes in all. His opponents Henry Tang and Albert Ho received 285 and 76 votes respectively. Thus, Leung was declared duly elected by the Returning Officer. [1] [2] After the election result was endorsed by the Central Government of the PRC, Leung took office on 1 July 2012, for a term of five years.

Mandate

Upon their elections, Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang enjoyed popularity ratings of 80 percent and 70 percent respectively. [3] Commentators have widely suggested that by comparison, Leung's very low approval rating of 17.8 percent by participants in the mock election and a less than overwhelming 57 percent support from the Election Committee members means he lacks the mandate from the people. [4] The Standard cited one source who suggested the fact that the active involvement of the central government liaison office in the election may deter some people from joining Leung's team. [5] Furthermore, pundits have commented Leung's lack of support within the business community may mean Leung may have difficulty recruiting suitable and capable talent for his cabinet. [6]

Legacy issues

In addition to general livelihood issues, specific issues inherited by Leung from the previous administration include:

Transitional team

Fanny Law, who was Leung's campaign manager, was appointed as head of the office of the CE-elect. [12] Leung earlier appointed Cathy Hung as his PR officer and Allen Fung as project officer. [13]

Leung's fourth appointment to his transitional office, of 27-year-old Chen Ran (陳冉) as his project officer, stirred criticism. Chen is a former general secretary of the pro-CPC Hong Kong Y.Elites Association (香港菁英會), of which Leung is the patron. She is also the daughter of a middle-ranking government official in Shanghai, and a former member of the Communist Youth League who has resided in Hong Kong for over 6 years. Her application to permanent residency of Hong Kong has been reportedly fast-tracked. Lee Cheuk-yan criticised Leung of "seeding a Communist princeling" in the civil service. [14] The CE-elect's office said that Chen had not been actively involved in the Youth League since 2005; the DAB said it was appropriate for Leung to recruit people who shared his vision. [13] An op-ed in The Standard said that "almost every bright student is invited to join the CYL," but that "Leung should have been aware of the sensitivity involved". [15] The appointment makes the CE-elect's office the third government department to recruit a non-permanent resident since the system of non-civil service contracts was put in place in 1999. [16]

Restructure of governing apparatus

In April 2012, chief Leung announced his plan to reform the government, "aimed at providing better service to the public while boosting governance". [17] Under the plan, two more deputy secretaries are to be created – a new deputy chief secretary and deputy financial secretary – to join the chief secretary, financial secretary, and secretary for justice. [18] Leung announced his desire to create a Culture Bureau; Housing and Transport would be split into two bureaux and Housing would merge with Lands and planning. [18] The newly created Deputy chief secretary position will be responsible for the Labour and Welfare, Education and cultural affairs bureaux. The Chief Secretary is to oversee the environment, Food and health, Home affairs, Security, Civil service, and Constitutional and mainland affairs. The financial secretary is to oversee Housing, planning and lands, Works, Transport and Financial Services and the treasury bureaux. The Deputy financial secretary will be in overall charge of the Commerce, industrial and tourism, as well as the Information and technology bureaux. [19] To allow for a smooth transition, the government agreed to table Leung's restructuring plan before LegCo before it dissolved for the summer. However, Pan Democrats believed careful scrutiny was necessary, and strongly opposed the plan to rush through the changes; People Power representatives in Legco warned they would table some 900 motions at the finance committee meeting on 15 June and over 100 amendments at the plenary council meeting on 20 June. [18]

Cabinet

Ministry

The new ministerial line-up under Leung was announced on 28 June 2012. As Leung's proposed structure had not yet passed through the legislature, the posts were announced under the existing structures. [20]

The line-up was expanded by adding one new Innovation and Technology Bureau headed by Nicholas Yang in November 2015.

Major changes in the office were the resignations of chief secretary for administration Carrie Lam and financial secretary John Tsang on 16 January 2017 to run in the 2017 chief executive election. The posts were filled by the secretary for labour and welfare Matthew Cheung and the secretary for development Paul Chan respectively.

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftofficeParty
Chief Executive 1 July 201230 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Chief Secretary for Administration 1 July 201216 January 2017  Nonpartisan
16 January 2017 Lam   Nonpartisan
Financial Secretary 1 July 200716 January 2017  Nonpartisan
16 January 2017 Lam   Nonpartisan
Secretary for Justice 1 July 2012 Lam   Nonpartisan
Secretary for the Civil Service 1 July 201221 July 2015  Nonpartisan
21 July 201530 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development 28 June 201130 June 2017  DAB
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs 30 September 201130 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Development 1 July 201230 July 2012  Nonpartisan
30 July 201216 January 2017  Nonpartisan
13 February 201730 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Education 1 July 201230 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for the Environment 1 July 2012 Lam   Nonpartisan
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury 1 July 200730 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Food and Health 1 July 201230 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Home Affairs 1 July 200721 July 2015  Nonpartisan
21 July 2015 Lam   DAB
Secretary for Innovation and Technology 20 November 2015 Lam   Nonpartisan
Secretary for Labour and Welfare 1 July 200716 January 2017  Nonpartisan
13 February 201730 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Security 1 July 201230 June 2017  Nonpartisan
Secretary for Transport and Housing 1 July 201230 June 2017  Nonpartisan

Executive Council non-official members

The executive council consisted of 30 members in total: chief executive being the president of the ExCo, 3 secretaries of the department and 12 heads of the bureaux as the 16 official members; 14 non-official members. In October 2012, two additional Legislative Council members, Regina Ip, chairwoman of the New People's Party and Jeffrey Lam, vice-chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong were appointed to the executive council as non-official members after the 2012 Legislative Council election, which made the total members of the ExCo to 32. After Barry Cheung and Franklin Lam resigned from the ExCo, the chief executive did not reappoint new members to the council. Nicholas Yang became an official member of the ExCo on 20 November 2015 when he took the Secretary for Innovation and Technology post. Two more non-official members, Legislative Council members Tommy Cheung and Martin Liao were appointed in November 2016, which made the council divided evenly with 16 official and 16 non-official members excluding the chief executive.

MembersAffiliationPortfolioAssumed officeLeft officeBorn inRef
Lam Woon-kwong Nonpartisan Non-official Convenor of the ExCo;
Former civil servant
1 July 201230 June 20171951 [21]
Cheng Yiu-tong FTU Honorary president of FTU 1 July 200230 June 20171951 [22]
Laura Cha Nonpartisan Non-executive deputy chairman of HSBC 19 October 2004 Lam 1949 [23]
Anna Wu Nonpartisan Management consultant21 January 200930 June 20171951 [24]
Arthur Li Nonpartisan Deputy chairman of Bank of East Asia 1 July 2012 Lam 1945 [25]
Andrew Liao Nonpartisan Former deputy judge of High Court 1 July 201230 June 20171949 [26]
Chow Chung-kong Nonpartisan Chairman of HKEx and HKGCC 1 July 2012 Lam 1950 [27]
Fanny Law Nonpartisan Former government official1 July 2012 Lam 1953 [28]
Barry Cheung Nonpartisan Chairman of HKMEx and URA 1 July 201224 May 20131955 [29]
Cheung Chi-kong Nonpartisan Executive director of One Country Two Systems Research Institute 1 July 2012 Lam 1953 [30]
Franklin Lam Nonpartisan Former senior portfolio manager at UBS Global Asset Management 1 July 20121 August 20131961 [31]
Bernard Chan Nonpartisan Businessman and politician1 July 2012 Lam 1965
Cheung Hok-ming DAB Vice-chairman of Heung Yee Kuk 1 July 201230 June 20171952 [32]
Starry Lee DAB Legislative Council member1 July 201217 March 20161974
Regina Ip NPP Legislative Council member17 October 201215 December 20161950
Jeffrey Lam BPA Legislative Council member17 October 2012 Lam 1951
Nicholas Yang Nonpartisan Vice President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University 2 March 201520 November 20151955
Ip Kwok-him DAB Legislative Council member17 March 2016 Lam 1951
Martin Liao Nonpartisan Legislative Council member25 November 2016 Lam 1957
Tommy Cheung Liberal Legislative Council member25 November 2016 Lam 1949

Mak Chai-kwong housing allowance allegations

Newly appointed development minister, Mak Chai-kwong, became embroiled in controversy when disclosures surfaced about the cross-leasing scheme he allegedly used to claim housing allowance some 20 years ago as a civil servant [33] The incident led to his arrest by the ICAC and his resignation, twelve days into his appointment. [34] He was replaced by former Accountancy functional constituency lawmaker, Paul Chan.

National education

Furore erupted in the first week of July 2012, when the National Education Services Centre and National Education Centre published a 34-page education booklet on the Beijing Consensus in which one-party rule was praised. it was revealed that the previous administration had granted at least HK$72 million (US$9.2 million) over six years to the two companies to produce these materials, which were accused of being "biased". [35]

The Leung administration, which steadfastly resisted public pressure to scrap the subject, was accused of attempting to force through the Beijing government's agenda to "brainwash" its citizens against popular opposition. A street protest against the introduction on 29 July organised by civic, teacher, parent, and student groups opposed to the introduction was attended by an estimated crowd of 90,000. [36]

Umbrella Revolution

Sit-in protests frequently referred to as the Umbrella Revolution began in September 2014 in response to the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) on reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system. [37] Benny Tai, one of the principals of Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP), planted the seeds of a civil disobedience movement in January 2013 should the framework not conform to international standards. [38] In light of the highly restrictive electoral framework announced on 31 August 2014, which was tantamount to Communist Party pre-approval of candidates allowed to present themselves to the Hong Kong electorate, students mobilised a class boycott to protest the decision beginning on 22 September 2014. The Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism started protesting outside the government headquarters on 26 September 2014; [39] OCLP kicked off their civil disobedience campaign on 28 September. [40] Demonstrations began outside the Hong Kong Government headquarters in northern Hong Kong Island, [41] and eventually a swell of protesters then blocked both east–west arterial routes in Admiralty. Aggressive policing (including the use of tear gas) and attacks on protesters by opponents that included triad members, triggered more citizens to join the protests, occupying Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. [42] [43] [44] Members of what would eventually be called the Umbrella Movement occupied several major city intersections, with the number of protesters peaking at more than 100,000. [45] [46] [47]

Government officials in Hong Kong and in Beijing denounced the occupation as "illegal" and "violation of the rule of law", and Chinese state media and officials claimed repeatedly that the West had played an "instigating" role in the protests, and warned of "deaths and injuries and other grave consequences." [48] In an opinion poll carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, only 36.1% of 802 people surveyed between 8–15 October accept NPCSC's decision but 55.6% are willing to accept if HKSAR Government would democratise the nominating committee during the second phase of public consultation period. [49] The protests precipitated a rift in Hong Kong society, and galvanised youth – a previously apolitical section of society – into political activism or heightened awareness of their civil rights and responsibilities. Not only were there fist fights at occupation sites and flame wars on social media, family members found themselves on different sides of the conflict. [50]

Key areas in Admiralty, Causeway Bay, and Mong Kok were occupied and remained closed to traffic for over 70 days. Despite numerous incidents of intimidation and violence by triads and thugs, particularly in Mong Kok, and several attempts at clearance by the police, suffragists held their ground for over two months. CY Leung then made the famous comments referring to representative democracy as a numbers game because "you'd be talking to half the people in Hong Kong [that] earn less than US$1,800 a month [the median wage in HK]. You would end up with that kind of politics and policies". [51] [52] After the Mong Kok occupation site was cleared with some scuffles on 25 November, Admiralty and Causeway Bay were cleared with no opposition on 11 and 14 December respectively. Throughout the protests the HK government's use of the police and courts to resolve political issues led to accusations from liberal media that these institutions had been turned into a political tools, thereby compromising the police and judicial system in the territory and eroding the rule of law in favour of "rule by law". [53] [54] [55] [56] Police inactions and violent actions throughout the occupation and severely damaged the reputation of Hong Kong Police, which was once recognised as the most efficient and professional police forces in the Asia Pacific region. [57] The protests ended without any political concessions from the government, but instead triggered a torrent of rhetoric and propaganda from CY Leung and mainland officials about rule of law and patriotism, and an assault on academic freedoms and civil liberties of activists. [54] [58] [59] [60]

On 19 October 2014, Leung claimed that "foreign forces" were behind the protests. He said that the government had evidence for this claim that would be disclosed at an "appropriate time". In early 2015, in an event that was only open to the pro-government newspapers Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po , he repeated his claim that there was significant evidence that foreign elements were behind the organisation of the Umbrella Movement but still did not substantiate his claims with evidence. [61] As of 2023 Leung still has not provided any evidence.

Failure of political reform vote

The Communist Party leadership in Beijing had hailed its package – the electoral framework decision by the NPCSC of 31 August 2014 – as momentous political gift of direct elections for their leader that the British never made to its colony, yet opponents derided the election from list of candidates pre-screened by a nomination committee composed mainly of pro-Beijing loyalists and business elites as violating the pledge for universal suffrage within the Basic Law and in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. [62] [63] [64] [65] Public opinion polls indicated even split between those who supported voting against Beijing's dictat, and those who believed that it was better to accept a flawed plan. [63] [65] The regime stated before the vote that there would be no compromise. In the face of staunch opposition by Pan-democratic legislators and their oft-repeated promises of veto and the insufficient numbers to secure a two-thirds majority, the HK government initiated a propaganda campaign to build public support to put pressure on the recalcitrant lawmakers. [66] Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen confirmed on 2 June 2015 that reform proposals would be tabled to the Legislative Council on 17 June with no modifications. [67]

During the second day of the debate on 18 June 2015, right before the vote, Ip Kwok-him and Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung led a walk-out of pro-Beijing legislators after the chairman denied Lam's request for a 15-minute recess. Lam later explained that the walk-out was an impromptu attempt to delay the division so that his party member Lau Wong-fat, who was delayed, could cast his vote in favour of the Beijing-backed reforms. [68] However, five Liberal Party legislators, Chan Yuen-han of the FTU and two other pro-Beijing independents remained in the chamber, so quorum was maintained; they voted in favour of the proposal. On the other hand, all 27 pan-democrats and one pro-Beijing legislator Leung Ka-lau representing the Medical constituency voted against, so the government's reform proposal failed by 8:28. [69]

Since it had been widely expected the reform would be vetoed by being six votes short of the absolute majority stipulated by the Basic Law, the pro-Beijing camp's sudden walk-out resulted in a surprising landslide defeat that gave the world the impression there was no support for the reform proposals in Hong Kong. [70] [71] The fiasco was described by analysts as an "embarrassment" for Beijing, and those who had participated in the walk-out headed for the Central Government's Liaison Office to give their accounts for their actions. [70] CY Leung and the Communist regime shifted the responsibility of the monumental defeat onto the Pan-Democrats. Leung said: "Today 28 legco members voted against the wishes of the majority of Hong Kong people, and denied them the democratic right to elect the chief executive in the next election". [65] The Liaison Office blamed: "a minority of legislators, acting out of selfish interests". [71]

Anti-parallel traders protests

As a result of rising tensions in society due to the volume of cross border parallel traders causing disruption to stores, transport, and the way of life more generally. Although the government said that it had put in place certain measures, such as blocking some 25,000 suspected parallel traders from entering Hong Kong, inspection of industrial buildings for use in violations of leases, the prosecution of cross-border visitors carrying an excess of the permitted quantity of milk powder, the problem of their disruption of daily life in the northern part of Hong Kong persists. [72] [73] [74] [75] Radical localist camp such as Civic Passion and Hong Kong Indigenous initiated direct action against the unlimited multiple re-entry visa within the Individual Visit Scheme for PRC residents over three successive Sundays starting on 8 February 2015 in the most affected parts of the city. [72] [76] [77] These protests brought worldwide media attention to the locals' grievances. [78] [79]

Lead in water scandal

On 5 July 2015 Democratic Party legislator Wong Pik-wan exposed the lead contamination in tap water at Kai Ching Estate, a newly constructed public housing estate in Kowloon City, thereby beginning the "Hong Kong watergate". [80] [81] The affair became a full-fledged scandal that undermined the credibility of the government after officials attempted to pass the blame onto a building contractor. [81] [82] It further intensified after the press and public discovered throughout the following months of more and more instances of lead contamination, including in schools and on other premises. [83] [84] Secretary for Education Eddie Ng failed to deal with the matter as reported contamination spread into local education establishments on 21 August. [85] The public furore Ng earned when he initially refused to test the water supply in all kindergartens or install water filters to help protect the health and welfare of highly vulnerable children only abated when Chief Secretary Carrie Lam announced on 3 September that tests would be conducted on supplies to kindergartens across the territory to ensure the safe potable water for the most vulnerable schoolchildren. [85]

The government's handling of the crisis caused CY Leung's support rate to hit a new low since he came to power in 2012. Results of a survey released in early September showed Leung was disapproved of across all demographics. Approvals amounted to 22 percent and disapprovals were 62 percent – a net popularity of negative 39 percentage points; similarly, the satisfaction rate for the HK government stood at 21 percent while its dissatisfaction rate is at 50 percent – a net of negative 29 points. [85]

Cross-border abduction incident

The disappearances of five Hong Kong people related to an independent publisher and bookstore in October to December 2015 precipitated an international outcry. At least two of them disappeared in mainland China, one in Thailand. One member was last seen in Hong Kong, but apparently had found his way to Shenzhen, across the Chinese border, without the necessary travel documents. The October disappearances were muted, as unexplained disappearances and lengthy extrajudicial detentions are known to occur in mainland China. [86] The unprecedented disappearance of a person in Hong Kong, and the bizarre events surrounding it, shocked the city and crystallised international concern over the possible abduction of Hong Kong citizens by Chinese public security bureau officials and their likely rendition, and the violation of several articles of the Basic Law and the one country, two systems principle. [87] [88] [89] Following widespread suspicion for several months, it was separately confirmed in February 2016 by Guangdong provincial authorities that they had been taken into custody in relation to a case involving Gui Minhai. [90]

Mong Kok unrest

In the run-up to the Chinese New Year, localist group Hong Kong Indigenous called for action online to shield the street hawkers, who sold Hong Kong street food in which they saw as part of the Hong Kong culture, from government health department's attempts at eradication. The protest on 8 February 2016 escalated to violent clashes between the police and the protesters that lasted until the next morning. [91] The Hong Kong government classified the violent incident as a riot, while some media outlets and social media platforms have opted for calling the event "Fishball Revolution" (魚蛋革命), in reference to the popular Hong Kong street food item. The Chinese foreign ministry blamed the violence on "separatists". [92] The 66,000 votes polled by Hong Kong Indigenous member Edward Leung Tin-kei in the New Territories East by-election three weeks later was seen as a milestone for localism in Hong Kong politics. [93]

2016 visit by Zhang Dejiang

Zhang Dejiang, then-chairman of the National People's Congress, arrived in Hong Kong on 17 May 2016 for a three-day visit in his capacity as the official responsible for Hong Kong and Macau affairs. [94] Citizens questioned the need for the deployment of 6,000 police officers – more than double the number that were enlisted when Chinese Communist Party general secretary Hu Jintao visited Hong Kong three years earlier. [94] [95] Security measures included suspending construction work for Sha Tin to Central Link of the MTR, the cordoning off an area within a one-block radius of his hotel, gluing down bricks outside the pavement near his hotel. [95] [96] The gluing attracted the satirical response from Trevor Noah at Comedy Central, saying "They started gluing down their sidewalks? So protesters can't grab the bricks and throw them?" [97] Parts of the city were in lockdown by the 8,000 police officers who were eventually deployed, unprecedentedly in a counter-terrorist operation. [95] [98] Zhang was protected by heavily armed police officers and a 45-car cortège. [99] Despite the high level of alert, activists managed to put up massive banners in prominent locations to welcome Zhang – whilst some banners recalled the Umbrella revolution slogan "I want genuine universal suffrage", another, which read: "End Chinese Communist Party dictatorship", was hung up and visible to Zhang's motorcade from the airport. [100] [101] [102] Zhang spoke at a policy conference on Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping's One Belt, One Road economic project that aims to improve connectivity between China and Eurasia and met four pro-democracy legislators at a reception, ahead of a banquet. [94] [103] Pan-democrats boycotted the event at which Zhang spoke. [104] CY Leung received what commentators described a guarded endorsement from Zhang. [105]

Wang Chau controversy

Within days of the 2016 legislative elections and the decisive victory of Eddie Chu in the New Territories West constituency, Chu made allegations that the government was in collusion with business interests, rural kingpins and Triads. He has received death threats for his advocacy and is placed under police protection. [106] [107] Although CY Leung initially attempted to blame financial secretary John Tsang and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, leaked internal government meeting minutes directly implicated CY Leung in a decision to defer to the interests of Heung Yee Kuk leaders by scaling down a planned housing development in Wang Chau in the New Territories from 13,000 units to 4000 units, razing a greenfield site whilst avoiding brownfield site illegally occupied by the Chairman of the rural committee in Shap Pat Heung. [108] [109]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal Party (Hong Kong)</span> Political party in Hong Kong

The Liberal Party (LP) is a pro-Beijing, pro-business, and conservative political party in Hong Kong. Led by Tommy Cheung and chaired by Peter Shiu, it holds four seats in the Legislative Council, and holds five seats in the District Councils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Tang</span> Hong Kong politician and businessman

Henry Tang Ying-yen is a Hong Kong politician who served as the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong between 2007 and 2011. He held the position of Financial Secretary from 2003 to 2007. In 2012, he lost the Hong Kong Chief Executive Election to Leung Chun-ying.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lam Woon-kwong</span>

Lam Woon-kwong is a Hong Kong politician and civil servant who has worked as convenor of the Executive Council and chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leung Chun-ying</span> Chinese politician

Leung Chun-ying, also known as CY Leung, is a Chinese politician from Hong Kong and a chartered surveyor, who has served as vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference since March 2017. He was previously the third Chief Executive of Hong Kong between 2012 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selina Chow</span> Hong Kong television executive and politician

Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee is a former Hong Kong television executive and politician. She was a member of the Legislative Council for nearly three decades, and was also a member of the Executive Council. She is honorary chairwoman of the Liberal Party, having formerly been its chairwoman.

The Hong Kong order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Hong Kong. Administered by the government's Protocol Division, the hierarchy does not determine the order of succession for the office of Chief Executive, which is instead specified by the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democracy in Hong Kong</span>

Democratic reforms in Hong Kong did not seriously begin until 1984 and has faced significant challenges since 2014. The one country, two systems principle allows Hong Kong to enjoy high autonomy in all areas besides foreign relations and defence, which are responsibilities of the central government. Hong Kong's Basic Law allows residents to vote for local district councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Cheung</span> Hong Kong businessman and politician

Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, GBS, JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo), representing the Catering functional constituencies seats. He is a non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and the current chairman of the Liberal Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Lam</span> Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is a retired Hong Kong politician who served as the fourth Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2017 to 2022, after serving as Chief Secretary for Administration for five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Police Complaints Council</span> Hong Kong police oversight body

The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) is a civilian body of the Government of Hong Kong, part of the two-tier system in which the Hong Kong Police Force investigates complaints made by the public against its members and the IPCC monitors those investigations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election</span> Election in Hong Kong

The 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election was held on 25 March, 2012 to select the Chief Executive of Hong Kong (CE), the highest office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), by a 1,193-member Election Committee (EC) to replace the incumbent Chief Executive. Won by the former non-official convener of the Executive Council of Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying, the election was the most competitive as it was the first election with more than one pro-Beijing candidate since the 1996 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Tsang government</span>

The Second term of Donald Tsang as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, officially referred to as "The 3rd term Chief Executive of Hong Kong" relates to the period of governance of Hong Kong since the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2012. Former civil-servant Donald Tsang was the Chief Executive throughout the duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Cheung</span>

Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, GBS, JP is a Hong Kong businessman. Cheung is a former Non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, a chairman of Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange (HKMEx), and former chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Legislative Council of Hong Kong</span> 2012–2016 Legislative Council of Hong Kong

The Fifth Legislative Council of Hong Kong was the fifth meeting of the legislative branch of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The membership of the LegCo is based on the 2012 election. The term of the session is from 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2016, during the term in office of the Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Due to the new arrangements agreed in a contentious LegCo vote in 2010, the session consists of the new total of 70 seats in LegCo, ten more than previously, with 35 members elected in geographical constituencies through direct elections, and 35 members in functional constituencies, in which five District Council (Second) functional constituency seats each represent all 18 District councils of Hong Kong voted for by all resident voters in Hong Kong. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong remained the largest party while the pan-democrats secured the one-third crucial minority. Notable new members of the LegCo members include Gary Fan from the new established party Neo Democrats and first openly gay councillor, People Power's Ray Chan Chi-chuen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election</span> Election in Hong Kong

The 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election was held on 26 March 2017 for the 5th term of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong (CE), the highest office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Former Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam beat former Financial Secretary John Tsang and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing, receiving 777 votes from the 1,194-member Election Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–2015 Hong Kong electoral reform</span> Proposed electoral reform

The 2014–2015 Hong Kong electoral reform was a proposed reform for the 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election and 2016 Legislative Council election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Hong Kong protests</span> Series of sit-in street protests

A series of sit-in street protests, often called the Umbrella Revolution and sometimes used interchangeably with Umbrella Movement, or Occupy Movement, occurred in Hong Kong from 26 September to 15 December 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden Chow</span> Hong Kong politician

Holden Chow Ho-ding is a Hong Kong solicitor and politician. He is vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the largest pro-Beijing party in Hong Kong, and a former chairman of Young DAB, its youth wing. He was elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 2016, through the District Council (Second) "super seat". He was re-elected in 2021 through the New Territories North West geographical constituency.

Michael Sze Cho-cheung, GBS, CBE, ISO, JP was a Hong Kong government official. He held various government positions including Secretary for Constitutional Affairs from 1991 to 1994 and Secretary for the Civil Service from 1994 to 1996. He was executive director of the Trade Development Council (DTC) from 1996 to 2004 and chairman of the Operations Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) until 2014.

Temple Chambers is a set of barristers' chambers based in Admiralty, Hong Kong. It is widely considered to be one of the leading sets of chambers in Hong Kong given its high ratio of senior counsel to juniors, as well as a strong history of appointments to key judicial and government roles.

References

  1. Kaiman, Jonathan (25 March 2012). "Thousands protest pick for Hong Kong executive post". Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 25 March 2012.
  2. The Fourth Term Chief Executive Election – Result. Government of Hong Kong.
  3. Siu, Phila; Benitez, Mary Ann (21 March 2012). "Public warned of uncertainty after big day" Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  4. Tsang, Steve (2 April 2012). "Political realities". South China Morning Post.
  5. Siu, Phila (26 March 2012). "Team selection Leung's top priority" Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  6. Cheung, Chi-fai (26 March 2012). "After a hard race, tests loom large for Leung". South China Morning Post.
  7. Luk, Eddie (17 April 2012). "Door shuts on moms" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard.
  8. Luk, Eddie (24 April 2012). "Rural leaders to rally in defense of homes" Archived 7 January 2013 at archive.today . The Standard.
  9. Cheung, Chi-fai (21 April 2012). "Bureau ditches HK$15b incinerator funding bid". South China Morning Post
  10. National education subject to be delayed" [ permanent dead link ]. South China Morning Post, 26 January 2012
  11. Chong, Winnie (10 July 2012) "Lesson in wavering over manual 'bias'" [ permanent dead link ]. The Standard
  12. Staff reporter (20 April 2012). "Law takes on job as director of CE-elect office" Archived 14 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard.
  13. 1 2 Luk, Eddie (24 April 2012). "Leung breaks silence on young aide" Archived 8 January 2013 at archive.today . The Standard.
  14. "委「共青」入候任特首辦 梁振英拒评安插官二代 [Appointment of Communist Youth to CE-elect's office – CY Leung refuses to comment on parachuting of second-generation official]". p2, Headline News, 24 April 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012.
  15. Ma, Mary (24 April 2012). "Leung's hiring glitches" Archived 13 September 2012 at archive.today . The Standard.
  16. Lee, Colleen (24 April 2012). "Leung office defends its hiring of mainlander". South China Morning Post.
  17. Siu, Phila (24 May 2012). "Time for new filibuster row as Leung 'turns back clock'" Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  18. 1 2 3 Lee, Colleen; So, Peter; Ng, Kang-chung (8 June 2012). "'Business as usual' for CY if the plan fails". South China Morning Post
  19. Mary Ma, (27 April 2012) "Top choice closing in" Archived 7 January 2013 at archive.today . The Standard
  20. Luk, Eddie (29 June 2012). "Leung's men (and woman)" Archived 7 January 2013 at archive.today . The Standard
  21. "The Honourable LAM Woon-kwong, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  22. "The Honourable CHENG Yiu-tong, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  23. "The Honourable Mrs Laura CHA SHIH May-lung, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 May 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  24. "The Honourable Anna WU Hung-yuk, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  25. "Professor the Honourable Arthur LI Kwok-cheung, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  26. "The Honourable Andrew LIAO Cheung-sing, GBS, SC, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  27. "The Honourable CHOW Chung-kong". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  28. "The Honourable Mrs Fanny LAW FAN Chiu-fun, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  29. "The Honourable Barry CHEUNG Chun-yuen, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  30. "The Honourable CHEUNG Chi-kong, BBS". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  31. "The Honourable Franklin LAM Fan-keung". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  32. "The Honourable CHEUNG Hok-ming, GBS, JP". Executive Council, Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  33. Ma, Mary (9 July 2012) "Time to come clean on bundled deal" Archived 7 January 2013 at archive.today . The Standard
  34. Luk, Eddie (13 July 2012). "Official insists he played by rules on parents' flat" Archived 7 January 2013 at archive.today . The Standard
  35. Chan, Candy (16 July 2012). "Give public say on patriotic 'bias,' say teachers" Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  36. Ewing, Kent (7 August 2012) "Patriots and protests in Hong Kong". Asia Times.
  37. Cheung, Tony (31 August 2014). "Hong Kong's candidate nominating system out of balance, says Beijing scholar". South China Morning Post.
  38. "公民抗命的最大殺傷力武器". Hong Kong Economic Journal . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  39. "Thousands of Hong Kong students start week-long boycott". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  40. "Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy protesters". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  41. "Full text of NPC decision on universal suffrage for HKSAR chief selection". Xinhua News Agency. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  42. Buckley, Chris; Ramzy, Austin; Wong, Edward (3 October 2014). "Violence Erupts in Hong Kong as Protesters Are Assaulted". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  43. Tania Branigan, David Batty and agencies (4 October 2014). "Hong Kong legislator says government using triads against protesters". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014.
  44. Curran, Enda (29 September 2014). "Hong Kong Police Use of Tear Gas on Pro-Democracy Protesters Is Questioned". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  45. "HKPF report card: Occupy Central term". Harbour Times. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  46. "Thousands denounce HSBC board member's likening of Hong Kong people to freed slaves". Reuters. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  47. "HSBC's Laura Cha sparks outrage comparing wait for Hong Kong voting rights to that of U.S. slaves". Daily News. New York. 1 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  48. Anne Applebaum (3 October 2014). "China's explanation for the Hong Kong protests? Blame America". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015.
  49. "Public Opinion & Political Development in Hong Kong Survey Results (Press Release) October 22, 2014" (PDF). Chinese University of Hong Kong. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2014.
  50. Mary Ma (9 October 2014). "Zen 'unfriends' Lai ..." Archived 2 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  51. Keith Bradsher and Chris Buckley (20 October 2014). "Hong Kong Leader Reaffirms Unbending Stance on Elections". The New York Times.
  52. Josh Noble and Julie Zhu (20 October 2014). "Hong Kong 'lucky' China has not stopped protests, says CY Leung". Financial Times.
  53. "Hong Kong: Massive anti-government protests after attempted police crackdown". chinaworker.info. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014.
  54. 1 2 "Mixed legacy for Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement". Business Spectator. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015.
  55. Laura Mannering (18 October 2014). "Hong Kong police charge leaves protesters injured". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015.
  56. Julie Makinen (9 December 2014). "Hong Kong police to remove protesters from streets after court order". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015.
  57. Te-Ping Chen, Lorraine Luk and Prudence Ho (4 October 2014). "Hong Kong Police's Use of Tear Gas During Protests Hurts Reputation of 'Asia's Finest'". The Wall Street Journal.
  58. "Hong Kong Creates Cadets Modeled After PLA, China Daily Says". Bloomberg. 19 January 2015.
  59. Lau, Kenneth (13 February 2015). "Leung denies torpedoing uni selection" Archived 13 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard.
  60. "傳政府阻港大陳文敏升職 羅范:點會重蹈覆轍". Apple Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 February 2015.
  61. So, Peter (13 January 2015). "CY Leung repeats claim of 'external forces' influencing Occupy – but provides no evidence". South China Morning Post.
  62. Alissa Greenberg g (18 June 2015). "Hong Kong Lawmakers Reject Electoral-Reform Proposal Backed by Beijing". Time.
  63. 1 2 "Booing, a walkout, then Hong Kong vetoes China-backed electoral reform proposal". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  64. "Hong Kong vetoes Beijing plan for electoral reform". The Irish Times. 19 June 2015.
  65. 1 2 3 "Hong Kong vetoes China-backed electoral reform proposal". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  66. "Carrie Lam launches new bid to convince pan-democrats to back Hong Kong reform package". South China Morning Post. 3 June 2015.
  67. Lam, Jeffie (2 June 2015). "Minister confirms June 17 vote on electoral reform but is resigned to defeat". South China Morning Post.
  68. "Why Did Pro-Beijing Lawmakers Walk Out of the Hong Kong Vote?". The Wall Street Journal. 18 June 2015.
  69. Lam, Hang-chi (18 June 2015). "And so, we stagger into an even more uncertain future". ejinsight.
  70. 1 2 Cheung, Tony; Lai, Ying-kit; Lam, Jeffie (20 June 2015). "Bickering escalates in pro-Beijing camp over bungled Legco vote on Hong Kong political reform". South China Morning Post.
  71. 1 2 Shannon Tiezzi. "Hong Kong's Legislature Rejects Beijing-Backed Election Plan". The Diplomat.
  72. 1 2 Luo, Qi (9 February 2015). "Tuen Mun parallel protesters pepper sprayed" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard, 9 February 2015
  73. "Milk smuggler jailed for two months" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard, 5 February 2015
  74. Lau, Kenneth (18 February 2015). "Milk smuggler jailed for two months" Archived 10 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  75. "Parallel traders crowd Sheung Shui station" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard, 31 January 2015
  76. Luo, Qi (16 February 2015). "Sha Tin protesters pepper sprayed" Archived 9 March 2015 at archive.today . The Standard
  77. Luk, Eddie; Wong, Hilary (2 March 2015). "Stores pull down the shutters" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . The Standard
  78. "Parallel_Lives". The Economist. 19 February 2015.
  79. "Hong Kong 'radicals' up ante in democracy push against China". Reuters. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  80. Ng, Kang-chung (20 July 2015). "Hong Kong lawmaker Helena Wong moves from blunders to tainted water scandal". South China Morning Post.
  81. 1 2 "Explainer: How the water lead contamination scare became a citywide concern". Hong Kong Free Press. 13 July 2015.
  82. "First it was lead, now legionella bacteria found in Kowloon City estate's water supply". South China Morning Post. 13 July 2015.
  83. "Lead water scandal escalates as Housing Sec denies situation is 'out of control'". Hong Kong Free Press. 3 August 2015.
  84. "How the government lost public trust over lead contamination". EJ Insight. 16 July 2015.
  85. 1 2 3 "Can CY Leung still govern Hong Kong effectively?". EJ Insight. 2 September 2015.
  86. "Hong Kong unsettled by case of 5 missing booksellers". The Big Story. Associated Press. 3 January 2016.
  87. "Disappearance of 5 Tied to Publisher Prompts Broader Worries in Hong Kong". The New York Times. 5 January 2016.
  88. Ilaria Maria Sala (7 January 2016). "Hong Kong bookshops pull politically sensitive titles after publishers vanish". The Guardian.
  89. "Unanswered questions about the missing booksellers". EJ Insight. 5 January 2016.
  90. Simon Lewis (6 February 2016). "China Has Finally Told Hong Kong It Is Holding the 3 Missing Booksellers". Time.
  91. "【A1頭條】本土派號召300人旺角撐小販 警噴椒驅散". Apple Daily. 9 February 2016.
  92. "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Remarks on the Riot in Hong Kong". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. 11 February 2016.
  93. Chung, Kang-chung (2 March 2016). "All Around Town: So which Hong Kong politician keeps gunning for losing candidate?". South China Morning Post.
  94. 1 2 3 "Hong Kong scuffles as key Chinese leader visits". BBC News.
  95. 1 2 3 "Zhang had more protection in HK than Obama will get in Hiroshima". EJ Insight. 23 May 2016.
  96. "The Force is with him: Thousands turn out to protect Zhang Dejiang". Hong Kong Free Press.
  97. "Video: Gluing down the sidewalks? HK's security circus for Zhang mocked on The Daily Show". Hong Kong Free Press.
  98. "'We're now on a counterterrorism operation': Hong Kong police deploy 8,000 officers, threaten 'decisive action' against Zhang Dejiang protesters". South China Morning Post. 18 May 2016.
  99. "Elite officers, machine guns disguised as briefcases and a 45-strong motorcade: inside Zhang Dejiang's Hong Kong security detail". South China Morning Post. 19 May 2016.
  100. "Hong Kong's pro-democracy groups drape banners from hills as Zhang Dejiang arrives". South China Morning Post. 17 May 2016.
  101. "Protest banner appears in Kwun Tong". RTHK.
  102. "Hong Kong activists welcome Chinese state leader by hanging pro-democracy banner near Lion Rock". Hong Kong Free Press.
  103. Clare Baldwin (17 May 2016). "Top ranked Chinese official to 'listen' to HK demands as independence calls grow". Reuters.
  104. "You won't lose your identity: Zhang Dejiang assures Hong Kong it will not be absorbed by mainland China". South China Morning Post. 18 May 2016.
  105. "Zhang 'navigated fine line' on CY's performance". South China Morning Post.
  106. "Afraid to go home since election day, 'king of votes' Eddie Chu gets round-the-clock police protection over death threat". South China Morning Post. 8 September 2016.
  107. "'I will not back down': Eddie Chu defiant after police arrest six over death threats". South China Morning Post.
  108. "Revealed: decision behind Wang Chau rural housing scandal reaches very top of Hong Kong government". South China Morning Post.
  109. "Wang Chau saga might prove CY Leung's undoing". South China Morning Post. 21 September 2016.
Preceded by Government of Hong Kong
2012–2017
Succeeded by
Lam