An election for the President of the

Legislative Council of Hong Kong The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, colloquially known as LegCo, is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Hong Kong. It sits under People's Republic of China, China's "one country, two systems" c ...

took place on 11 October 1995 for members to among themselves elect the new

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

. Andrew Wong was unopposed and took up the presidency until the

handover of Hong Kong The handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China was at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the former colony, which began in 1841. Hong Kong was established as a specia ...

in 1997.

Election

Andrew Wong, independent, received the support of the largest faction in the council, the Democratic Party, and some other independents. The rival

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

and some other independents were said to have lobbied the former Secretary for Health and Welfare, Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien, to compete for the presidency. Wong, however, preferred to run for the chairmanship of the powerful finance committee. At the end, the Clerk to the council received only one valid nomination for the office of President. Andrew Wong was proposed by

Martin Lee Martin Lee Chu-ming (; born 8 June 1938) is a Hong Kong politician and barrister. He is the founding chairman of the United Democrats of Hong Kong and its successor, the Democratic Party (Hong Kong), Democratic Party, Hong Kong's flagship Pr ...

, chairman of Democratic Party, and seconded by Eric Li,

Lee Cheuk-yan Lee Cheuk-yan (; born 12 February 1957 in Shanghai) is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1995 to 2016, when he lost his seat. He represented the Kowloon West and the Manufa ...

, General Secretary of CTU, and Fung Kin-kee, chairman of ADPL. Wong was then declared to be elected President of the council.

Reaction

After taking the chair, Wong said he is deeply honoured and particularly proud to preside over a Council which is facing challenging times ahead. He also announced he is resigning from government advisory committees as services in the Executive Branch will necessarily conflict with the neutral role as president. He also said he will represent members' views in his contacts with the administration, not be a go-between for the Government, and pledged not to take sides between political parties.

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said Wong is expected to be wholly impartial and independent of any party, and competition for the presidency could all too easily politicise it and undermine its impartiality.

References

{{Authority control 1995 in Hong Kong President of the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections