Role of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive is the head of the HKSAR. He is responsible for
implementing the Basic Law, signing bills and budgets passed by the
Legislative Council, promulgating laws, making decisions on government
policies and issuing executive orders. He is assisted by the Executive
Council in policy-making.

The Basic Law provides that the Chief Executive of the HKSAR is to be
selected by election or through consultations held locally and be appointed
by the Central People's Government. The method for selecting the Chief
Executive is to be specified in the light of the actual situation in the
HKSAR and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly
progress. For the second term, the Chief Executive will be elected by an
Election Committee composed of 800 members from four different
sectors of the community. The Basic Law provides that 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.

The first Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, was
elected by a Selection Committee comprising 400 members from various
sectors in the community set up in accordance with the Basic Law. Mr
Tung assumed office on July 1, 1997, for a five-year term.

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