Hong Kong

Politics and government

:Main article: Politics of Hong Kong

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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is headed by its Chief Executive, the head of government. This office is currently held by Donald Tsang, who was elected {{ref|elected}} on 16 June 2005. Tsang had held the post of Chief Secretary for Administration prior. Donald Tsang assumed his post on 24 June 2005 in Beijing, China; he will finish the remaining portion of Tung Chee Hwa's last term which ends on 30 June 2007, according to the interpretation of Annex I and Article 46 by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Related Topics:
Chief Executive - Head of government - Donald Tsang - 16 June - 2005 - Chief Secretary for Administration - 24 June - Beijing - Tung Chee Hwa - 30 June - 2007 - Annex I - Article 46 - Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

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The election of a new Chief Executive by the 800-member Election Committee was expected to be held on 10 July 2005. On 16 June 2005, Donald Tsang was acclaimed the winner, as the only candidate securing the required 100 nominations from members of the election committee. Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive, assumed office on 1 July 1997, following his election by a 400-member electoral college. For the second five-year term of the Chief Executive which began in July 2002, Tung was the only nominated candidate and therefore acclaimed.

Related Topics:
Election Committee - 10 July - 2005 - 16 June - Donald Tsang - 1 July - 1997

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The PRC set up a Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) just before the handover, and moved to Hong Kong to have its meetings after the handover. It reverted some laws passed by the original Legislative Council, which was formed by means of universal suffrage. The PLC passed some of its own laws, such as the Public Order Ordinance {{ref|POO}}, which required permission from police to hold a demonstration where the number of people who participates exceeds 30. Legislative Council elections were held on 24 May 1998, 10 September 2000, and again on 12 September 2004, with the next election scheduled for 2008. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's "Mini-constitution", the present third term of the Legislative Council has 30 seats directly elected from geographical constituencies, and 30 seats elected from functional constituencies. The 1998, 2000 and 2004 Legislative Council elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested, despite discontent among a small number of mainly 'pro-democratic' politicians, who contended that the functional constituency elections and the Election Committee elections (for 1998 and 2000) were undemocratic, as they consider that the electorate for these seats is too narrow.

Related Topics:
Legislative Council - Elections - 24 May - 1998 - 10 September - 2000 - 12 September - 2004 - Basic Law - Constitution - Functional constituencies - 2004

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The civil service of Hong Kong maintains its quality and neutrality, operating without discernible direction from Beijing. Many government and administrative operations are located in Central on Hong Kong Island near the historical location of Victoria City, the site of the original British settlements.

Related Topics:
Beijing - Victoria City

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The Right of abode issue sparked debates in 1999, while the controversy over Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 was the focus of politics in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003, culminating in a peaceful mass demonstration on 1 July 2003, after which the government shelved {{ref|shelved}} the drafted law {{ref|draftedlaw}} brought forth by Article 23. The focus of controversies {{ref|controversies}} shifted {{ref|shifted}} to the issue {{ref|issue}} of universal suffrage towards the end of 2003 and in 2004, which was the slogan of another peaceful mass demonstration on 1 July 2004.

Related Topics:
Right of abode issue - Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 - 1 July - 2003 - Universal suffrage

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