President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Presiding officer of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

香港特別行政區立法會主席

Incumbent
Andrew Leung

since 12 October 2016

Style| The Honourable (尊貴的)
(formal)
Nominator| Legislative Council
Appointer| Legislative Council
Term length| Four years, renewable
Precursor| Governor of Hong Kong
Inaugural holder| John Joseph Swaine
Formation| 19 February 1993; 31 years ago (1993-02-19)
Salary| HK$2,400,000 annually[1]

Politics and government
of Hong Kong

Laws

* Basic Law

* Drafting Committee
* Consultative Committee
* Article 23 (national security laws)

* 2020 law
* 2024 law

* Article 45
* Article 46
* Article 69
* One country, two systems
* Sino–British Joint Declaration

* Criminal law

* Capital punishment in Hong Kong
* Criminal procedure

* Jury system
* Law enforcement in Hong Kong
* Human rights

* LGBT rights in Hong Kong
* Internet censorship in Hong Kong

Executive

* Chief Executive: John Lee

* Office of the Chief Executive
* Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR

* Principal officials

* Chief Secretary: Eric Chan
* Financial Secretary: Paul Chan
* Secretary for Justice: Paul Lam

* Executive Council

* Convenor: Regina Ip

* Government Secretariat and Government agencies

* Civil Service Bureau

* Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service

* Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau

* Registration and Electoral Office
* Offices in the Mainland and Taiwan

* Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau

* Leisure and Cultural Services Department
* Tourism Commission

* Education Bureau

* University Grants Committee Secretariat
* Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency

* Environment and Ecology Bureau

* Environmental Protection Department
* Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
* Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
* Hong Kong Observatory
* Government Laboratory

* Health Bureau

* Department of Health

* Home and Youth Affairs Bureau

* Home Affairs Department
* Information Services Department

* Labour and Welfare Bureau

* Social Welfare Department

* Security Bureau

* Hong Kong Police Force
* Hong Kong Fire Services Department
* Hong Kong Correctional Services
* Customs and Excise Department
* Immigration Department
* Government Flying Service
* Civil Aid Service
* Auxiliary Medical Service

* Transport and Logistics Bureau

* Transport Department
* Civil Aviation Department
* Highways Department
* Marine Department

* Housing Bureau

* Housing Department

* Commerce and Economic Development Bureau

* Intellectual Property Department
* Invest Hong Kong
* Office of the Communications Authority
* Post Office
* Trade and Industry Department
* Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (Overseas)
* Radio Television Hong Kong

* Development Bureau

* Architectural Services Department
* Buildings Department
* Civil Engineering and Development Department
* Drainage Services Department
* Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
* Lands Department
* Land Registry
* Planning Department
* Water Supplies Department

* Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau

* Census and Statistics Department
* Companies Registry
* Government Logistics Department
* Government Property Agency
* Inland Revenue Department
* Official Receiver's Office
* Rating and Valuation Department
* Treasury

* Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau

* Efficiency Office
* Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
* Innovation and Technology Commission

* Hong Kong Civil Service

* Administrative Officer
* Political Appointments System

Legislature

* Legislative Council

* President: Andrew Leung
* List of Members of the Legislative Council

* Political camps:

* Pro-Beijing camp
* Pro-democracy camp
* Localist camp

Judiciary

Court of Final Appeal

* Chief Justice: Andrew Cheung

High Court

* Chief Judge: Jeremy Poon
* Court of Appeal
* President of the Court of Appeal
* Court of First Instance

District Court

* Chief District Judge: Justin Ko

Magistrates' Court

* Chief Magistrate: So Wai-tak

Special courts and tribunals:

* Coroner’s Court
* Labour Tribunal
* Lands Tribunal
* Market Misconduct Tribunal
* Obscene Articles Tribunal
* Small Claims Tribunal

Districts

District Officers

* District Councils
* Central and Western
* Eastern
* Islands
* Kowloon City
* Kwai Tsing
* Kwun Tong
* North
* Sai Kung
* Sha Tin
* Sham Shui Po
* Southern
* Tai Po
* Tsuen Wan
* Tuen Mun
* Wan Chai
* Wong Tai Sin
* Yau Tsim Mong
* Yuen Long
* Area committees

Elections

Electoral Affairs Commission

* Registration and Electoral Office

Chief Executive Elections

* Election Committee

Legislative elections

* Geographical Constituencies
* Functional Constituencies
* Election Committee Constituency

District council elections

* List of constituencies of Hong Kong

* Political parties

* Universal suffrage

Foreign relations

Documents

* Hong Kong identity card
* HKSAR Passport
* BNO Passport

Consular missions in Hong Kong

* Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
* Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations
* Hong Kong–United States relations
* Hong Kong–Philippines relations
* Hong Kong–Singapore relations

Hong Kong–China relations

* Hong Kong Liaison Office
* Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing
* Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement

Hong Kong–Taiwan relations

* Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office
* Hong Kong–Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council

Related topics

* Culture
* Economy
* Education
* Geography
* History

Hong Kong portal

* v
* t
* e

President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Traditional Chinese| 香港特別行政區立法會主席
| Transcriptions

Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization| Hēung góng dahk biht hàhng jing kēui lahp faat wúi jyú jihk
Jyutping| Hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 koei1 lap6 faat3 wui2 zyu2 zik6

The president of the Legislative Council is the presiding officer of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. According to the Article 71 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the president of the Legislative Council is elected by and from among Legislative Council members, plays the presiding role, administrative role and ceremonial role, and ensures the smooth conduct of the Legislative Council meetings.[2]

## History

[edit]

From the establishment of the council in 1843 to 1993, the president of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was the governor. In 1991, a deputy president, John Joseph Swaine, was appointed by the governor from among the non-official members to chair the sittings. The governor remained president and member, but systematically absented himself from most of the sittings. In February 1993, the governor ceased to be member and president of the council. The presidency was handed over to a member elected from among the unofficial members.

## Eligibility

[edit]

Under the current system, the president shall be a Chinese citizen and permanent resident of Hong Kong SAR of not less than 40 years of age, with no right of abode in any foreign country and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for continuous period of not less than 20 years.[2]

## Roles

[edit]

Under the Article 66 to 79 in the Basic Law, the Legislative Council Commission Ordinance Cap. 443, the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance Cap. 382 and the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (RoP), the President performs the following roles in the council:

### Presiding role

[edit]

* The president presides over council meetings and ensures that businesses are transacted in an orderly way during the council meetings. In the absence of the president, the chairman of the House Committee serves as deputy to the president.
* The president determines the day and hours of the meetings and may change the agenda, suspend a meeting, or call a special meeting, or adjourn the Legislative Council.[2]
* The president shall call emergency meetings at the request of the chief executive.
* The president is responsible for the observance of the rules of order in the Legislative Council. Decisions on a point of order shall be final.[2]

#### Primacy of President

[edit]

In a controversial move directed at reining in democratic legislators (most of whom were elected by universal suffrage and six of whose seats had been vacated by a controversial court order of disqualification), amendments to the Rules of Procedure were passed on 15 December 2017 giving sweeping powers to the president to control the business of the legislature. Among them is the power to vet proposed motions and amendments to bills, require legislators to explain them and to reject or merge them. Prior notice must be given of any notice of motion and the .resident may reconvene the chamber immediately after any failure to meet quorum.[3] Under the undemocratic election system of the legislature, the role of president has been occupied by a pro-Beijing legislator since 1 July 1997.

### Administrative role

[edit]

The president is also the chairman of the Legislative Council Commission, a statutory body and provides administrative support and services for the Legislative Council and its members through the Legislative Council secretariat.

The Legislative Council Commission determines the organization and administration of support services and facilities, formulate and execute policies on their effective operation and expand funds in ways it see fit to support these activities.[2]

### Ceremonial role

[edit]

The president is accorded the sixth place in the official precedence list following the chief executive, the chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal, the chief secretary for Administration, the financial secretary and the secretary for justice. The president is the representative of the Legislative Council on ceremonial and formal occasions.[2]

## List of presidents

[edit]

### British Colonial period (1843–1941)

[edit]

Main article: Governor of Hong Kong § British Administrators and Governors (1841–1941)

Before 1993, the Legislative Council was presided over by the Governor of Hong Kong.

### Japanese occupation period (1941–1945)

[edit]

From 25 December 1941 to 30 August 1945, the office was suspended due to the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong. The representative advisory bodies during the time were the Chinese Representative Council and Chinese Cooperative Council.

### Restoration to British rule (1946–1997)

[edit]

Main article: Governor of Hong Kong § Restoration to British rule (1945–1997)

See also: 1993 President of the Hong Kong Legislative Council election

Until 1993, the legislative council was presided over by the governor of Hong Kong. Between 1991 and 1993, a deputy president, John Joseph Swaine, was appointed by the then-governor David Wilson to chair the meetings in his absence. The governor then only attended the first session in October every year to present his policy address and gave a farewell speech to the members of the council before he left office. The president was elected among non-official members of the legislative council from 1993 onwards after the last governor Chris Patten having given up the presidency that year.

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Born–Died) | Term of office  | Political Party  | Constituency  | Assembly

|
|
|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Duration
|  | Sir John Joseph Swaine
施偉賢爵士

(1932–2012)

| 19 February
1993 | 30 September
1995  | 2 years, 223 days  |  | Independent | Appointed  | 1991–95
|  | Andrew Wong
黃宏發

(born 1943)

| 11 October
1995 | 30 June
1997  | 1 year, 262 days  |  | Independent | New Territories Southeast | 1995–97

### Provisional Legislative Council (1997–1998)

[edit]

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Born–Died) | Term of office  | Political Party  | Constituency  | Assembly

|
|
|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Duration
|  | Rita Fan
范徐麗泰

(born 1945)

| 25 January
1997 | 30 June
1998  | 1 year, 156 days  |  | Independent
(Pro-Beijing)  | N/A | PLC

### SAR Legislative Council (1998–present)

[edit]

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Born–Died) | Term of office  | Political Party  | Constituency  | Assembly

|
|
|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Duration
1  |  | Rita Fan
范徐麗泰

(born 1945)

| 2 July
1998 | 30 September
2008  | 14 years, 81 days  |  | Independent
(Pro-Beijing)  | Election Committee | 1st
2nd
Hong Kong Island | 3rd
2  |  | Jasper Tsang
曾鈺成

(born 1947)

| 8 October
2008 | 30 September
2016  | 7 years, 347 days  |  | DAB
(Pro-Beijing)  | Hong Kong Island | 4th
5th
3  |  | Andrew Leung
梁君彥

(born 1951)

| 12 October
2016 | Incumbent | 7 years, 351 days  |  | BPA
(Pro-Beijing)  | Industrial (First) | 6th
7th

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Explanatory Note on Remuneration Package for Legislative Council Members" (PDF). LegCo.
2. ^ a b c d e f "Legislative Council In Brief No. 2/2012-13", Legislative Council of Hong Kong
3. ^ Cheng, Kris (15 December 2017). "Hong Kong legislature passes controversial house rule changes taking powers from lawmakers". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 16 December 2017.

* v
* t
* e

Elections and referendums in Hong Kong

Chief Executive elections|

* 1996
* 2002
* 2005
* 2007
* 2012
* 2017
* 2022
* 2027

Election Committee elections|

* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2005
* 2006
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* 2026

Legislative Council elections|

* 1985
* 1988
* 1991
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2021
* 2025

Sanitary Board and municipal elections|

* 1888
* 1891
* 1894
* 1899
* 1901
* 1903
* 1906
* 1909
* 1912
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1919
* 1920
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1926
* 1927
* 1929
* 1930
* 1932 (May)
* 1932 (Nov)
* 1933
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1939
* 1940
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1959
* 1961
* 1963
* 1965
* 1967
* 1969
* 1971
* 1973
* 1975
* 1977
* 1979
* 1981
* 1983
* 1986
* 1989
* 1991
* 1995

District Council elections|

* 1982
* 1985
* 1988
* 1991
* 1994
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027

Rural Representative elections|

* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027

National People's Congress elections|

* 1997
* 2002
* 2008
* 2012
* 2017
* 2022
* 2027

Plebiscite|

* 1896

* Electoral Affairs Commission
* Registration and Electoral Office
* List of Hong Kong by-elections
* Elections in China
* Elections in Macau

* v
* t
* e

Current members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

President: Andrew Leung (BPA)

DAB (19)|

* Chan Hak-kan
* Chan Han-pan
* Chan Hok-fung
* Chan Wing-kwong
* Chan Yung
* Rock Chen
* Vincent Cheng
* Holden Chow
* Steven Ho
* Lillian Kwok
* Nixie Lam
* Lau Kwok-fan
* Starry Lee
* Leung Hei
* Stanley Li
* Ngan Man-yu
* Elizabeth Quat
* Edmund Wong
* Kennedy Wong

BPA (8)|

* Jeffrey Lam
* Kenneth Lau
* Andrew Leung
* Lo Wai-kwok
* Priscilla Leung
* Benson Luk
* Jimmy Ng
* Sunny Tan

FTU (6)|

* Joephy Chan
* Kwok Wai-keung
* Dennis Leung
* Luk Chung-hung
* Ng Chau-pei
* Kingsley Wong

NPP (6)|

* Judy Chan
* Adrian Ho
* Regina Ip
* Lai Tung-kwok
* Dominic Lee
* Yung Hoi-yan

Liberal (4)|

* Tommy Cheung
* Lee Chun-keung
* Shiu Ka-fai
* Frankie Yick

FEW (2)|

* Chu Kwok-keung
* Tang Fei

FLU (2)|

* Chau Siu-chung
* Lam Chun-sing

Roundtable (1)|

* Michael Tien

PP (1)|

* Connie Lam

KWND (1)|

* Scott Leung

NPHK (1)|

* Gary Zhang

NCF (1)|

* Ma Fung-kwok

TS (1)|

* Tik Chi-yuen

Pro-Beijing
independents (35)|

* Chan Chun-ying
* Chan Hoi-yan
* Chan Kin-por
* Maggie Chan
* Chan Pui-leung
* Chan Siu-hung
* Chan Yuet-ming
* Duncan Chiu
* Chow Man-kong
* Kenneth Fok
* Junius Ho
* Wendy Hong
* Carmen Kan
* Peter Douglas Koon
* Kong Yuk-foon
* Ambrose Lam
* David Lam
* Dennis Lam
* Kenneth Leung
* Andrew Lo
* Lau Chi-pang
* Hoey Simon Lee
* Robert Lee
* Martin Liao
* Louis Loong
* Johnny Ng
* Shang Hailong
* So Cheung-wing
* Tan Yueheng
* Paul Tse
* Tony Tse
* William Wong
* Stephen Wong
* Kitson Yang
* Erik Yim
* Yiu Pak-leung

7th Legislative Council of Hong Kong

* v
* t
* e

Elections for Presidents of the Hong Kong Legislative Council

* 1993
* 1995
* 1997
* 1998
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2022

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[No.]: Number