Election of the Chief Executive

As provided for in the Basic Law, the Chief Executive was elected by the
Selection Committee and had to meet certain requirements. These
included being a Chinese citizen aged not less than 40 with no right of
abode in any foreign country and having lived in Hong Kong continuously
for at least 20 years. Candidates were asked to submit their names to the
Preparatory Committee before November 1, 1996. Each candidate had to
be nominated by no fewer than 50 Selection Committee members, each of
whom could nominate one candidate, therefore allowing for a maximum
of eight candidates. Final selection was by secret ballot, with the
successful candidate having to receive more than half the votes. Five of
the original eight eligible candidates were eliminated in the nomination
process on November 1, 1996. In the election on December 11, 1996,
Mr Tung Chee Hwa was elected with an overwhelming majority of votes.
Mr Tung was appointed Chief Executive under State Council Decree
No 207, signed by Premier Li Peng on December 16, 1996, to assume
office on July 1, 1997. Under the Basic Law, the term of office for the
Chief Executive is five years.

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