Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 1996

Infobox Election
election_name = Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 1996
country = Hong Kong
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election =
previous_year =
next_election =
next_year =
election_date = December 11, 1996

nominee1 = Tung Chee-hwa
electoral_vote1 = 320

nominee2 =
electoral_vote2 =

title = Chief Executive
before_election = Chris Patten
before_party = None
after_election = Tung Chee-hwa
after_party = NoneThe first ever Hong Kong chief executive election was held on 11th 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.

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 Fok.Horlemann, Ralf. [2002] (2002). Hong Kong's Transition to Chinese Rule. Routledge publishing. ISBN 0415296811.]

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.Chan, Ming K. [1997] (1997). The Challenge of Hong Kong's Reintegration With China. Hong Kong University Press. Hong Kong (China). ISBN 9622094414.] 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. Though it should be noted that 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.

Candidates

The 4 major candidates

* Simon Li Fook-sean (李福善) - former judge
* Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) - business man
* Yang Ti-liang (楊鐵樑)
* Peter Woo Kwong-ching (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 [cite web | last = Xavier | first = Gerry | coauthors = | title = Decision day brings a 10-minute replay of Tung's landslide | publisher = Hong Kong Standard | date = January 24, 1997 | url = http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=45529&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19970124&sear_year=1997 | accessdate = 2007-01-11] 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.

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 $100 million loan.Horlemann, Ralf. [2002] (2002). Hong Kong's Transition to Chinese Rule. Routledge publishing. ISBN 0415296811.] 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.

References

ee also

* 1990s in Hong Kong