Chief Executive of Hong Kong

The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the highest executive official in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The office came into being on July 1, 1997 with the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. Under British colonial rule, the top position was held by the Governor of Hong Kong. The current Chief Executive is Tung Chee Hwa.

The Chief Executive serves a term of five years. Currently the Chief Executive is elected by a 400 member electoral college consisting of Hong Kong residents selected by the government of the People's Republic of China. This selection method has been highly criticized as undemocratic. In 1997, Tung won 320 of the 400 votes from a field of four candidates. In 2002, Tung was the only candidate.

The Chief Executive can be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Whether the Chief Executive can be removed by the Beijing government is unclear.

Currently, one controversial topic is how the Chief Executive will be selected in 2007, with many groups in Hong Kong pushing for universal suffrage.

List of Chief Executives of Hong Kong

Since 1997 - Tung Chee Hwa