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49-572: The National Security Department is led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who is appointed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong . The department recruits from outside Hong Kong "to provide assistance in the performance of duties for safeguarding national security." The department works with the Office for Safeguarding National Security and is supervised by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of

98-672: A free port . This had been closed by the British Government in 1989 following the Rushdie Affair . Bhutan , which did not have diplomatic relations with either Beijing or Taipei at the time of the transfer of sovereignty, was able to maintain an honorary consulate in Hong Kong, accredited to Macau. The following countries, which recognise Taiwan as the Republic of China , previously had consulates in Hong Kong before 1997. Paraguay

147-539: A Facebook account under the fake name of "Tang Kee." An officer who used the account left a Facebook comment, saying "Even if [the primaries] did not violate any laws, God will not let you off," to which people in the court laughed at. In May 2023, the department confiscated from storage the Pillar of Shame commemorating victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown . It cited an ongoing case under investigation. The sculpture

196-485: A member or associated member of the Commonwealth . As Hong Kong was a Colony (later Dependent Territory ) of a Commonwealth country, some Commonwealth countries were represented by Commissions before the handover including Australia , Bangladesh , Canada , New Zealand , India , Malaysia , Nigeria and Singapore . After the transfer of sovereignty, they were renamed Consulates-General . Similarly,

245-511: A month later. However, it later restored diplomatic relations with Beijing in 2003. As a result of the transfer of sovereignty, North Korea , which had not been allowed to establish a trade mission in Hong Kong during British rule, was able to open a Consulate-General in February 2000. Similarly, Iran was also able to re-establish its Consulate-General, giving rise to concerns that the country could gain access to arms smuggled through Hong Kong,

294-463: A pay freeze imposed in 2012, resulting in its increase to HK$ 4.61 million ($ 591,000). In July 2017, directors of bureaux (DoBs) were approved to have a 12.4% pay rise and the 3.5% pay differential between secretaries of departments (SoDs) and DoBs remained, indicating a new annual pay of approximately HK$ 5 million for the city's leading role because the Chief Executive received a salary of 112% of

343-400: A pay freeze imposed on the chief executive and senior civil servants in 2012, he was accused of granting himself a pay rise by stealth and going against the trend of top politicians taking pay cuts instead of pay increases. In July 2021, Carrie Lam refused to remove the legal immunity of the chief executive in anti-bribery legislation, stating that the officeholder has to be accountable to

392-544: A statement condemning acts of impersonation and asked for more information from those involved in order to follow up on the incident. Chief Executive of Hong Kong High Court District Court Magistrates' Court Special courts and tribunals: Chief Executive Elections Legislative elections District council elections Consular missions in Hong Kong Hong Kong–China relations Hong Kong–Taiwan relations The chief executive of

441-515: Is John Lee selected as chief executive in the 2022 election , appointed by the Chinese State Council with the designation decree signed by Premier Li Keqiang on 30 May 2022 and took office on 1 July 2022. Lee is the fifth Chief Executive; each of his four predecessors are still living. According to article 44 of the Basic Law, the chief executive must be a Chinese citizen as defined by

490-453: Is provided to discharge promotional and protocol-related functions. Depending on police risk assessment, personal security protection is provided. Former Chief Executives also enjoy medical and dental care. Former Chief Executives hold the title "The Honourable", and ranks third in the Hong Kong order of precedence . Remuneration for the chief executive of Hong Kong is among the highest in

539-589: The Basic Law . The Election Committee is responsible for the nomination of chief executive candidates and election of the chief executive-elect. Under the 2021 Hong Kong electoral changes initiated by the National People's Congress , each candidate running for chief executive elections is to be nominated by at least 188 members of the Election Committee , before their eligibility is reviewed and confirmed by

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588-705: The Beijing government and hence, extending such provisions to CE would 'sabotage its superior constitutional status'. She was accused of positioning herself above the law whilst going against the principles of separation of power and rule of law . (born 1937) (born 1944) (born 1954) (born 1957) (born 1957) Consular missions in Hong Kong#Relations with Mainland China As of May 2024, there are 70 diplomatic missions in Hong Kong , of which 62 are consulates-general and 8 are officially recognised bodies in Hong Kong . As Hong Kong has

637-607: The Chief Secretary . The new salary of Chief Executive of Hong Kong is about thirty-nine times more than the annual salary of President of China . Since the chief executive is directly appointed by the Central People's Government of China after an election by a committee of 1,500 people selected by the Chinese Government, rather than the general population, many people, in particular the pro-democrats , have criticised

686-583: The Chief Secretary for Administration , the most senior official and head of the Government Secretariat , in charge of overseeing the administration of the Government. The Chief Executive holds the title " The Honourable ", and ranks first in the Hong Kong order of precedence . The official residence of the chief executive is Government House in Central , Hong Kong Island . The current chief executive

735-684: The Election Committee without first obtaining nominations from one eighth of its total members. The specific method for selecting the chief executive is prescribed in Annex I of the Basic Law. The Election Committee shall be composed of 1500 members from the following sectors pursuant to the amended Annex I under the 2021 Hong Kong electoral changes initiated by the National People's Congress . The Election Committee consists of individuals (i.e. private citizens) and representatives of bodies (i.e. special interest groups or corporate bodies) selected or elected by 40 prescribed sub-sectors as stipulated in Annex I to

784-713: The Election Committee , with nomination by at least 15 members of each sector of the Election Committee. Candidacy is confirmed upon review and confirmation of eligibility by the Candidate Qualification Review Committee, according to opinions issued by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the basis of a review by the National Security Department of

833-577: The Government of Hong Kong . According to Article 17 of the National Security Law, the duties and functions of the department shall be: According to Article 43 of the National Security Law, the department is allowed to take the following actions: The National Security Department is given unprecedented power of bypassing Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance to intercept communication of and monitor anyone suspected of endangering

882-617: The Hong Kong Police Force on whether a candidate meets the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law and swearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China . The Chief Executive-designate is then returned by the Election Committee with an absolute majority in a two-round system: the chief executive-designate is to be returned with an absolutely majority (>750 valid votes) 1. more than 2 candidates obtain

931-718: The Legislative Council , and bestowing honours . The Basic Law grants the chief executive a wide range of powers, but obliges him or her, before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council, making subsidiary legislation, and dissolving the Legislative Council, to act only after consultation with the Executive Council (all of whose members are the CE's own appointees). The executive council consists of official and non-official members, including

980-447: The Legislative Council , deciding on government policies, advising appointment and dismissal of principal officials of the Government of Hong Kong to the Central People's Government of China , appointing judges and holders of certain public offices and to pardon or commute sentences. The position is also responsible for the policy address made to the public. The chief executive's powers and functions are established by article 48 of

1029-671: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China requested that consulates indicate only one of the territories in their official names even if they serve both territories; it did not send this request to the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao. †. Also accredited to Macau . ‡. Consulates-general resident in Macau and accredited to Hong Kong. x. These consulate-general report directly to their respective foreign ministries , rather than to their Embassies in Beijing . When Hong Kong

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1078-565: The United States , while other consuls-general have served elsewhere as Ambassadors or High Commissioners before serving in Hong Kong, for example Australia , Germany and Israel. Various consulates general are accredited to both Hong Kong and Macau. The Philippines operates consulates in both territories, and Portugal serves Hong Kong through its Macau consulate. Several consulates serving both Hong Kong and Macau indicate both territories in their official names, while others do not. In 2018

1127-501: The chief secretary for administration , the financial secretary or the secretary for justice , by rotation, in that order, as acting chief executive. In case the position becomes vacant, a new chief executive would have to be selected. Prior to the handover in 1997 , the office of the chief executive-designate was at the seventh floor of the Asia Pacific Finance Tower. When Tung Chee-hwa assumed duty on 1 July 1997,

1176-463: The first selection of the chief executive, the committee consisted of only 400 members. It was expanded to 800 for the second term . As a result of enabling legislation stemming from a public consultation in 2010 , and its approval by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in Beijing, the number of representatives was increased from 800 to 1200. Following the electoral reform initiated by

1225-616: The handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China . The chief executive is head of the executive branch of the Hong Kong government. The functions of the chief executive include nominating principal officials for appointment by the State Council of China , which is headed by the premier , conducting foreign relations , appointing judges and other public officers, giving consent to legislation passed by

1274-419: The Basic Law. The Executive Council of Hong Kong is an organ for assisting the chief executive in policy-making. The council is consulted before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council, making subordinate legislation or dissolving the Legislative Council. Article 52 of the Basic Law stipulates that the Chief Executive must resign when: The Legislative Council has

1323-525: The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the HKSAR. The chief executive-designate is then returned by the Election Committee with an absolute majority. The Election Committee is now principally elected by body voters. The number of subsectors with individual votes were significantly reduced, together with elimination of mixed individual and body voting: Chief Executive candidates must receive nominations by at least 188 members of

1372-513: The Chinese government in 2021 to increase mainland-Chinese controls on Hong Kong, the number of representatives was increased to 1500 but most are appointed or ex-officio seats. According to article 46 the term of office of the chief executive is five years with a maximum of two consecutive terms. If a vacancy occurs mid-term, the new Chief Executive's first term is for the remainder of the previous Chief Executive's term only. The method of selecting

1421-716: The Commonwealth in 1989, the name of the Pakistan Consulate General in Hong Kong also remained unchanged. At the time of the transfer of sovereignty on 1 July 1997, South Africa did not have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China , as it had not yet transferred recognition from Taiwan . However, it was able to maintain its Consulate-General for an interim six-month period, until relations with Beijing were established on 1 January 1998. Other countries which had chosen to maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei closed their consulates in Hong Kong prior to

1470-509: The HKSAR Passports Ordinance. The individual must be at least 40 years old, a Hong Kong permanent resident who is a Chinese citizen with right of abode in Hong Kong , and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 20 years. Article 47 further requires that the chief executive be a person of integrity, dedicated to his or her duties. In addition, candidates are ineligible to stand for selection by

1519-680: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and head of the Government of Hong Kong . The position was created to replace the office of Governor of Hong Kong , the representative of the Monarch of the United Kingdom during British colonial rule . The office, as stipulated by the Hong Kong Basic Law , formally came into being on 1 July 1997 with

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1568-509: The NSL. According to local newspaper Ming Pao, police from the NSD regularly, sometimes monthly, met the activists to learn of their latest activities. One claimed he was contacted four times by the security police within one month, warning them any movement on "special days" could lead to arrest. These meetings increased significantly in 2023, as members of NGOs and former local councillors were approached for

1617-498: The People's Republic of China in Hong Kong is represented through While Taiwan is represented through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong . Countries with no consulate-general in Hong Kong, are most likely to have an embassy in Beijing , making it the closest diplomatic mission for residents in Hong Kong. A few consuls-general in Hong Kong have the rank of Ambassador, including Brazil, Japan, Philippines and

1666-484: The chief executive is provided under Article 45 and Annex I of the Basic Law, and the Chief Executive Election Ordinance. Under the Basic Law the chief executive is the chief representative of the people of Hong Kong and is the head of the government of Hong Kong. The Chief Executive's powers and functions include leading the government, implementing the law, signing bills and budgets passed by

1715-454: The first British Consul-General following the transfer of sovereignty to China , on July 1, 1997. During the negotiations between Britain and China on the future of Hong Kong, the British proposed the establishment of a "British Commissioner" following the transfer of sovereignty to China, which the Chinese rejected as an attempt to make the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region into

1764-444: The first time. In December 2022, in the case against Stand News , it was revealed that officers from the National Security Department had archived 587 articles from the website, sought prosecutors' advice on 30 of them, and then discarded the remaining articles. The defense argued that a fair trial would be impossible, since evidence was destroyed. An officer, Fung Siu-man, told the court that only national security police had access to

1813-428: The highest and the same no. of votes; or 2. no candidates win an absolute majority Then: The chief executive-designate must publicly disaffiliate with a political party within seven days of the election and must not become a member of a party during their term of office. The chief executive-designate is then appointed by the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China before taking office. In

1862-495: The national security, including pro-democracy politicians and protestors. Some websites were also reportedly banned by the department, including Hong Kong Watch . Police in the department had to be vetted to review the allegiance and loyalty to China, non-disclosure agreements are signed also. Senior police of the department has been sanctioned by the United States, including Edwina Lau, Frederic Choi, for their role in enforcing

1911-495: The national security. Warrants from courts are no longer needed for the department to search any premises with possible criminal evidence. Furthermore, the department is responsible for vetting candidates for elections after the election change imposed by the Chinese Government. Also Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) Also Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police The National Security Department has accused and arrested dissenting voices in Hong Kong for "endangering"

1960-681: The office as undemocratic , and have criticised the entire election process as a "small-circle election." Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has even stated that the election's result is a non-binding one, saying that the Chinese government would refuse to appoint the winning candidate if that person was unacceptable to them. Many events , including the Five Constituencies Referendum in 2010, Umbrella Revolution in 2014 and Anti-Extradition Movement during 2019–20, have attempted to push for greater democracy and universal suffrage . In January 2015, when Leung Chun-Ying reversed

2009-782: The office of the chief executive moved to the low block of the new Central Government Complex in Tamar . Government House continues to serve as the official residence of the Chief Executive. Upon retirement, former Chief Executives have access to office space at the Office of Former Chief Executives, 28 Kennedy Road . The office provides administrative support to former Chief Executives to perform promotional, protocol-related, or any other activities in relation to their former official role. The activities include receiving visiting dignitaries and delegations, giving local and overseas media interviews, and taking part in speaking engagements. A chauffeur-driven car

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2058-596: The office of the chief executive was located at the fifth floor of the Former Central Government Offices (Main Wing). In the past the governor had his office at Government House . Tung did not use Government House as the primary residence because he lived at his own residence at Grenville House . Donald Tsang decided to return to the renovated Government House during his first term , and moved in on 12 January 2006, for both his office and residence. In 2011,

2107-416: The power to propose a motion of impeachment of the chief executive for decision by the Central People's Government of China , with the following steps as stipulated in article 73(9) of the Basic Law : The acting and succession line is spelled out in article 53. If the chief executive is not able to discharge his or her duties for short periods (such as during overseas visits), the duties would be assumed by

2156-532: The status of a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, some consuls-general in Hong Kong report directly to their respective foreign ministries , rather than to their Embassies in Beijing . Most of the consulates-general are located in the areas of Central , Admiralty , Wan Chai , Wan Chai North , Causeway Bay and Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island and a handful in Kowloon . A few are also accredited to Macau . The central government of

2205-633: The title of the head of mission was also changed, from Commissioner to Consul-General . However, the Australian Commission had been renamed the Consulate-General in 1986. Although South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth in 1994, and its Embassies in Commonwealth countries were renamed High Commissions, the name of the South African Consulate General in Hong Kong remained unchanged. Similarly, while Pakistan had rejoined

2254-540: The transfer of sovereignty, such as Paraguay , which closed its consulate on May 11, 1997. Earlier, it had considered relocating to Macau , which was then still under Portuguese administration . The Central African Republic , Costa Rica , and the Dominican Republic also closed their consulates, while Liberia , with which China had broken off diplomatic relations in September 1997, was forced to close its consulate

2303-453: The world for a political leader , and only second to that of the prime minister of Singapore . The pay level took a cue from the handsome amounts paid to the city's colonial governors – worth $ 273,000 per annum plus perks in 1992. In 2005, Tung Chee Hwa received some HK$ 3 million ($ 378,500) in pay as Chief Executive. From 2009 until the end of 2014, the salary for the job stood at HK$ 4.22 million. In January 2015, Leung Chun-Ying reversed

2352-594: Was on exhibit at the University of Hong Kong before campus authorities removed it in 2021 and placed it in storage at the university's Kadoorie Centre. In 2022, journalists and members of the legal team representing media tycoon Jimmy Lai internationally received threatening messages purportedly from the Security Bureau and the national security wing of the Hong Kong Police Force. The Hong Kong police issued

2401-639: Was under British rule , the Governor represented the British government , as well as the British monarch as head of state . Matters relating to British nationality were handled by the Hong Kong Immigration Department . However, the United Kingdom 's commercial interests were represented by the British Trade Commission . The last Senior Trade Commissioner, Francis Cornish , became

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