Published : 2025-12-11

On 26 January 1996, the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was established in Beijing, to coordinate the preparatory work for the establishment of the Special Administrative Region.

In October 1996, registration for the Chief Executive election began, and a total of 31 people registered. By November, the Chairman's Meeting of the Sixth Plenary Session of the Preparatory Committee reviewed the registrants and simultaneously announced the list of candidates.

There were eight in total, including four popular candidates Tung Chee-hwa, Simon Li Fook-sean, Yang Ti-liang and Peter Woo Kwong-ching, as well as the other four candidates To Sum, Au Yuk-lun, Choi Ching-chu and Yu Hon-piu.

The Selection Committee for the First Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was formed, composed of 400 permanent residents of Hong Kong from various sectors.

On 15 November 1996, the Selection Committee for the Government held its first meeting at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to nominate candidates for the first Chief Executive election.

As a result, three candidates who had received nominations from over 50 members of the Selection Committee were selected, including Tung Chee-hwa, Yang Ti-liang and Peter Woo Kwong-ching.

On 11 December 1996, the Third Plenary Session of the Selection Committee for the First Government of the HKSAR was held.

The Chief Executive election took place during the meeting, where the 400 members of the Selection Committee elected the first Chief Executive.

The election result was that Tung Chee-hwa was elected with 320 votes, an 80% share of the vote, while Yang Ti-liang and Peter Woo Kwong-ching received 42 and 36 votes respectively.

On 16 December of the same year, Tung Chee-hwa was appointed by the State Council as the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.