ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HKSAR
for preparing the establishment of a 400-member Selection Committee, which in turn was responsible for the selection of the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR.
The Preparatory Committee was chaired by Vice Premier Qian, who was assisted by nine vice-chairmen. It had seven sub-groups dealing with the Selection Committee; the first Chief Executive; the Provisional Legislative Council; legal matters; economic affairs; celebration activities; and the first HKSAR Legislative Council.
At the Fifth Session of the Eighth NPC, held on March 10, 1997, Mr Qian presented a report on the committee's work. On March 14, 1997, the NPC passed a resolution approving the report. Having served its function, the Preparatory Committee was disbanded on July 11, 1997.
Selection Committee
In accordance with the NPC decision on April 4, 1990, the Selection Committee was responsible for recommending the candidate for the first Chief Executive through local consultations or through nomination and election after consultations. Its ambit was later expanded by the Preparatory Committee to include responsibility for the selection of the 60 members of the Provisional Legislative Council.
The Selection Committee was composed of 400 members, with 100 from each of four sectors: industrial, commercial and financial; the professions; labour, grass-root, religious and other; and former political figures, Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and representatives of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). On November 2, 1996, the 400 members, all permanent residents of Hong Kong aged 18 or older, were elected by members of the Preparatory Committee from 5 789 applicants in the four sectors.
Election of the Chief Executive
As provided for in the Basic Law, the Chief Executive was elected by the Selection Committee and had to meet certain requirements. These included being a Chinese citizen aged not less than 40 with no right of abode in any foreign country and having lived in Hong Kong continuously for at least 20 years. Candidates were asked to submit their names to the Preparatory Committee before November 1, 1996. Each candidate had to be nominated by no fewer than 50 Selection Committee members, each of whom could nominate one candidate, therefore allowing for a maximum of eight candidates. Final selection was by secret ballot, with the successful candidate having to receive more than half the votes. Five of the original eight eligible candidates were eliminated in the nomination process on November 1, 1996. In the election on December 11, 1996, Mr Tung Chee Hwa was elected with an overwhelming majority of votes. Mr Tung was appointed Chief Executive under State Council Decree No 207, signed by Premier Li Peng on December 16, 1996, to assume office on July 1, 1997. Under the Basic Law, the term of office for the Chief Executive is five years.
Work of the Chief Executive's Office
From January 1997, Mr Tung was provided with offices and staff to help him prepare for the formation of the first Government of the HKSAR, to prepare for the Handover and to work on the policies and draft bills he planned to implement during the immediate months after the handover. About 70 civil servants were seconded or on loan from the Hong Kong Government to work in the Chief Executive's Office.
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