Executive Council of Hong Kong

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The Executive Council of Hong Kong (also the ExCo, Chinese: 行政會議; Chinese name before the transfer of sovereignty to China: 行政局) is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.(Article 54 of the Basic Law). The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.

The Executive Council normally meets once a week (on Tuesdays). The Executive Council is consulted before the Chief Executive makes important policy decisions, often via Orders in Council, or introduces bills to the Legislative Council.

History

The Executive Council was first set up by the colonial government. The first ex-officio member were the Colonial Secretary and the Colonial Treasurer in the 1840s. The Attorney General was added in the 1850s. In 1949, the Executive Council had five ex-officio members: the senior military officer (Commander of British Forces Overseas), the colonial secretary, the attorney general, the secretary for Chinese affairs and the financial secretary; the Commissioner of Labour, while an 'official' was not an ex-officio member. In addition, there were six 'unofficial members': the chief manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the taipan of Jardine's, a solicitor, two barristers, and a physician.

The formation of the Executive Council remained after the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 (except the title of senior member was renamed convenor) until a ministerial system (named Principal Officials Accountability System or POAS) was introduced in 2002, Tung Chee Hwa's second term of office. Since then all secretaries are political appointees and have to leave the civil service. All secretaries are appointed to the council, transforming the council effectively into a cabinet. Non-official members are minorities in the council, and are like ministers-without-portfolio. The position of convenor was abolished.

In fulfilling his election platform, Sir Donald Tsang, the new Chief Executive, appointed eight new non-official members the day after the policy address was delivered on 12 October 2005. Secretaries of bureaux will sit in meetings of the Council when the agenda is related to their portfolio, and the position of convenor was restored. It was seen as a move to re-strengthen the role of the Council as a link with the community.

Composition

The members of ExCo are appointed by the Chief Executive from among principal officials (informally called "ministers"), members of Legislative Council, and public figures. The appointment and removal is decided by the Chief Executive. There is no fixed term of office, but the term of office of members shall not extend beyond the expiry of that of the Chief Executive who appoints them. (Article 55 of the Basic Law)

The Council is presided over by the Chief Executive. There are currently 14 ex-officio members and 15 non-official members in the Executive Council. Ex-officio members except the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and Secretary for Justice only sit in meetings that are related to their portfolio.

• Note: To avoid confusion, all the names on this list follow the Hong Kong convention (English name <if available>, family name, Chinese given name <if available>) for consistency.

Members include

• Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, KBE, GBM, JP, - Chief Executive of Hong Kong and President of the Executive Council
• Stephen Lam Sui-lung, GBS, JP - Chief Secretary for Administration
• John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP - Financial Secretary
• Wong Yan-lung, SC, JP - Secretary for Justice
• Michael Suen Ming-yeung, CBE, GBS, JP, - Secretary for Education
• Gregory So Kam-Leung, JP, - Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
• Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, - Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
• Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, IDSM, JP, - Secretary for Security
• Dr. York Chow Yat-ngok, MBE, GBS, SBS, JP, - Secretary for Food and Health
• Denise Yue Chung-yee, GBS, JP, - Secretary for the Civil Service
• Tsang Tak-sing, GBS, JP, - Secretary for Home Affairs
• Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBS, JP, - Secretary for Labour and Welfare
• Professor Chan Ka-keung, SBS, JP, - Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
• Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBS, JP, - Secretary for Development
• Edward Yau Tang-wah, GBS, JP, - Secretary for the Environment
• Eva Cheng Yu-wah, GBS, JP, - Secretary for Transport and Housing

Non-Official Members include:

• Ronald Arculli, GBM, CVO, OBE, GBS, JP (Convenor of non-official members)
• Cheng Yiu-tong GBS, JP - Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions
• Laura Cha Mei-lun GBS, JP - Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of HSBC, Former Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
• Charles Lee Yeh-kwong, OBE, GBM, GBS, JP,
• Dr. Leong Che-hung, OBE, GBM, GBS, JP, - Chairman of the Elderly Commission, Chairman of ICAC Complaints Committee, Former Chairman of the Hospital Authority
• Marvin Cheung Kin-tung, OBE, GBS, JP, - Chairman of the Airport Authority
• Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, GBS, BBS, JP, - President of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Chairman of the Hong Kong Consumer Council
• Lau Kong-wah, JP - Legislative Councillor (New Territories East constituency), Vice President of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong

January 2009 appointments

• Lau Wong-fat, OBE, GBM, GBS, JP, - Legislative Councilor (Heung Yee Kuk constituency), President of Heung Yee Kuk, Chairman of Tuen Mun District Council
• Professor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee, GBS, JP - Former Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Anna Wu Hung-yuk, GBS, SBS, JP - Chairman of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority
• Marjorie Yang Mun-tak, Council Chairwoman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Yeh V-nee, founder and non-executive honorary chairman of Value Partners Group.

Location

The Executive Council met in the Main Wing of the Central Government Offices on Government Hill, in Central and below Government House (former residence of the British Governor of Hong Kong). The Execo's new home will be in Lower Block of the Central Government Complex, Tamar.

The Provisional Executive Council of Hong Kong headed by Tung Chee Hwa met in Shenzhen or Tung's office on the 11th floor of the Asia Pacific Finance Tower in Hong Kong prior to the handover. Members of the outgoing British Hong Kong ExCo were not permitted to attend this body.

Both Executive Council sittings were on Tuesdays.

See also

• Politics of Hong Kong
• Legislative Council of Hong Kong

External links

• Executive Council