2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election
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All 1,200 votes of the Election Committee 601 votes needed to win | |||
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Opinion polls | |||
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The 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election is scheduled on 26 March 2017 for the 5th term of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong (CE). After the government's constitutional reform proposal being rejected by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) in the wake of a series of controversies and massive protests, the selecting method of the 2017 Chief Executive will remain chosen by the 1,200-member Election Committee (EC).
Background
The leader of Hong Kong, the Chief Executive, is currently elected by a 1200-member Election Committee (CE), though the Hong Kong Basic Law Article 45 states the "ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures."[1] Progress to universal suffrage has been the dominant issue in Hong Kong politics since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, as the pan-democracy camp has demanded the full implementation of Article 45. After ruling out universal suffrage in the 2012 Chief Executive election in 2004, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) in 2007 ruled that the 2017 Chief Executive election "may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage".[2]
On 31 August 2014, the NPCSC imposes the standard that "the Chief Executive shall be a person who loves the country and loves Hong Kong" and be nominated by a nominating committee, mirroring the present Election Committee, to nominate two to three candidates, each of whom must receive the support of more than half of the members of the nominating committee.[3] The pan-democrats viewed the restrictive nominating process as a violation of international standards of free elections, as candidates unsupportive of the central government would be screened out. The decision triggered a class boycott in Hong Kong[4][5] which escalated into a 79-day large-scale occupy movement, which is also known as the "Umbrella Revolution".
On 18 June 2015, the Legislative Council rejected the electoral reform proposal 28 to 8 votes with 33 principally pro-government legislators controversially absent, which meant the selecting method of the 2017 Chief Executive will remain chosen by the 1,200-member Election Committee.[6]
Candidates
Individuals listed below have been mentioned as potential 2017 Chief Executive candidates in at least two reliable media sources.
Pro-Beijing camp
Publicly expressed interest
- Leung Chun-ying, incumbent Chief Executive of Hong Kong[7][8]
- Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairwoman of New People's Party, member of Executive Council and Legislative Council[9][10]
- Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, former President of Legislative Council[11][12][13]
- John Tsang Chun-wah, Financial Secretary[13][14][15][16][17][18]
Other potential candidates
- Norman Chan Tak-lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority[19][20]
- Antony Leung Kam-chung, businessman and former Financial Secretary[9][21][22]
- Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, chairman of the Council of the University of Hong Kong[19][20]
Once declined but potential candidates
Declined
- Bernard Charnwut Chan, businessman and member of the Executive Council[24]
- Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, director-general of the World Health Organization[25]
- Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and member of Legislative Council[26]
- Henry Tang Ying-yen, former Chief Secretary for Administration and Chief Executive candidate in 2012[27]
- James Tien Pei-chun, member of Legislative Council and honorary chairman of Liberal Party[28]
- Peter Woo Kwong-ching, former chairman of Wharf Holdings and Chief Executive candidate in 1996[29]
Pan-democracy camp
Potential candidates
- Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, former chairwoman of the Civic Party and former member of Legislative Council[30][31]
Others
Announced
- Woo Kwok-hing, former vice-president of the Court of Appeal of the High Court
Pre-nomination
The Chief Executive race started as early on 27 October 2016 when retired judge Woo Kwok-hing became the first candidate to declare his campaign.[32] He launched an offensive campaign against incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, questioning his achievements during his term while Woo himself was questioned for his lack of experience in public administration.[33] Around the same time, New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip expressed her interest in running in the election. She criticised the potential candidate, Financial Secretary John Tsang for not doing much in the last decade. Tsang responded by saying that "if one can be idle at it for 10 years, [he] has quite a bit of talent." He refused to response if he would run, only said it was "heaven’s secret" when he would make any decision. Leung Chun-ying also unleashed a thinly-veiled attack on Tsang, suggesting ministers should be "responsible" and focus on the upcoming policy address and budget rather than thinking about joining the city’s leadership race. Leung also argued that "will those pushing for the city’s independence stop what they are doing? Will those insulting their own country shut up?", referring to the Legislative Council oath-taking controversy. He went on by asking "will the land and housing problems that have accumulated become easier to solve under a new leader or government? Will the cabinet continue to touch on vested interests in the property market with courage and determination, and amid difficulties, to solve the housing problems?"[34]
Opinion polling
Date(s) conducted |
Polling source | Sample size |
CY Leung |
Carrie Lam |
John Tsang |
KH Woo |
Jasper Tsang |
Regina Ip |
Antony Leung |
Norman Chan |
Audrey Eu |
Frederick Ma |
Bernard Chan |
Others | Don't know/ Abstain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28 Oct–2 Nov 2016 | nowTV/LUPGP | 1,020 | 7.9% | 8.3% | 28.1% | 12.2% | 9.7% | 6.7% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26.5% |
26 Oct–2 Nov 2016 | HKEJ/CCPOS | 1,005 | 9.5% | 10.3% | 28.4% | 13.5% | 11.4% | 8.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 18.5% |
3–5 Oct 2016 | The Initium/CCPOS | 521 | 10.5% | 11.6% | 32.4% | - | 11.8% | 5.1% | 14.1% | - | - | - | - | - | 14.5% |
26–27 Sep 2016 | HK01/HKUPOP | 513 | 10.9% | 12.3% | 28.6% | - | 10.4% | 3.8% | 7.1% | 0.6% | - | - | - | 7.5% | 19.0% |
23 Jan 2016 | HK01/HKUPOP | 522 | 8% | 16% | 20% | - | 5% | 5% | 8% | 0% | 11% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 19% |
See also
- 2014 Hong Kong protests
- Democratic development in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Basic Law Article 45
- Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2012
- Hong Kong legislative election, 2016
References
- ^ HK basic law web pdf. "HK basic law." The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved on 2007-01-08.
- ^ The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (2013). Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2016 Consultation Document (PDF). p. 3.
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(help) - ^ "Full text of NPC decision on universal suffrage for HKSAR chief selection". Xinhua News Agency. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- ^ "'Snitch line' in operation against school boycotters in H.K." GlobalPost. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ "Hong Kong Students to Boycott Classes If Democracy Demands Aren't Met". The Wall Street Journal. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
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ignored (help) - ^ "Hong Kong legislators reject China-backed reform bill". CNN. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "梁振英說五年後有機會願接受普選洗禮". Commercial Radio. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ "It's Leung's turn for some home truths in illegal structure row". South China Morning Post. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Ma, Mary (16 December 2013). "'King fishers' abound in CE race". The Standard.
- ^ a b "Skirting the issue of our next chief". The Standard. 14 January 2014.
- ^ "曾鈺成:2017年不參選特首". Apple Daily. 15 June 2013.
- ^ "'Let's wait and see': Legislative Council president keeps Hong Kong guessing on possible run for city's top job". South China Morning Post. 5 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Double trouble for CY Leung? John Tsang announces possible bid for Hong Kong's top job soon after Jasper Tsang does the same". South China Morning Post. 29 July 2016.
- ^ a b Lee, Wing-tat (9 June 2016). "人人都想做特首?特區領導惡鬥大揭幕". hk01.
- ^ Chan, Yannie (3 March 2015). "People Like John Tsang Now and Regina Ip's Unicorn Dancer is a Hero". HK Magazine.
- ^ Ma, Mary (12 May 2015). "2017 ticks for Woo and Tsang". The Standard.
- ^ "A handshake between China's president and Hong Kong's financial secretary has tongues wagging". South China Morning Post. 29 June 2015.
- ^ Chatterjee, Saikat; Roantree, Anne Marie (30 September 2015). "Hong Kong sees 2-4 percent growth as 'new normal', no change to dollar peg".
- ^ a b "【政情】特首跑馬仔十人選拔名單". now news. 27 October 2016.
- ^ a b "《信報》:港特首人選 北京名單有10人". Apple Daily. 27 October 2016.
- ^ Cheung, Tony (16 December 2013). "Antony Leung Kam-chung has chance at chief executive job, says Frederick Ma Si-hang". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ "Henry Tang says Antony Leung 'qualified' to run for chief executive". South China Morning Post. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ Zeng, Vivienne (21 January 2016). "Chief Sec Carrie Lam says she will retire next year, ruling out Chief Executive bid". Hong Kong Free Press.
- ^ "陳智思:未來十年不會選特首". Now TV. 8 March 2016.
- ^ "【特首戰開鑼】「黑馬」陳馮富珍:香港起了大變化但明年70歲望退休". 22 November 2016.
- ^ "做女特首? 李慧琼:受寵若驚 啼笑皆非". HK01. 20 March 2016.
- ^ "唐英年:不參選特首 創社團發掘政治人才". TVB News. 20 May 2015.
- ^ 廖梓達 (30 October 2014). "認做錯辭黨魁 田北俊:續為港人發聲". CRNTT.
- ^ "Peter Woo has 'zero interest' in running for CE". Radio Television Hong Kong. 15 May 2015.
- ^ Lee, Colleen; But, Joshua (25 March 2013). "Pan-democrats fear party screening after Shenzhen meeting". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ Ma, Mary (13 March 2013). "Time calls for suffrage momentum". The Standard. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Retired judge Woo Kwok-hing first to officially throw hat in the ring for Hong Kong's 2017 chief executive election". South China Morning Post. 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Rivals turn up the heat in Hong Kong leadership race". South China Morning Post. 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Retired judge pulls no punches as he launches bid for Hong Kong's top job". South China Morning Post. 27 October 2016.