Electing Hong Kong's Chief Executive

Appendix 1 - Chronology of Key Events

Appendix 1 Chronology of Key Events PRE-HANDOVER EVENTS Date Events Dec 19, 1984 PRC and UK governments signed the Joint Declaration. Jul 1985 Establishment of the Basic Law Drafting Committee (BLDC). Sep 26, 1985 Expansion of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo), from 46 to 56 members, of which 24 are elected by functional constituencies (FCs). Dec 1985 Formation of the Consultative Committee for the Basic Law (CCBL). Jun 4, 1989 Tiananmen massacre. Apr 4, 1990 7th NPC (3rd Session) Decision on the Establishment of the First Government of the HKSAR, providing for the setting up of the Selection Committee (SC) by the Preparatory Committee (PC). Sep 1991 First-ever direct elections to LegCo members, electing 18 members. Oct 1992 Governor Patten unveiled his political reforms for Hong Kong (the “Patten Reforms”). Mar 31, 1993 8th NPC (1st Session): Decision authorizing NPCSC to establish the Preliminary Work Committee (PWC) in preparation for the establishment of PC. Jul 2, 1993 NPCSC Decision establishing Preliminary Working Committee of the Preparatory Committee (PWCPC). At least 50% of PWC members would come from Hong Kong. Jun 30, 1994 LegCo enacted laws to implement the Patten Reforms after a heated marathon debate. Dec 31, 1994 NPCSC Decision on the Termination of District Councils, Urban Council, Regional Council and LegCo upon handover on July 1, 1997. 1995 LegCo elections. Oct 1995 Qian Qichen rejected the Patten Reforms while visiting London. Dec 8, 1995 End of PWC. Dec 28, 1995 NPCSC appointed 150 people to Preparatory Committee (PC), among which 94 (63%) came from Hong Kong and 56 (37%) came from the Mainland. Jan 1996 Hong Kong Government established the Liaison Office to work with PC. Jan 26, 1996 Establishment of PC. Apr 13–14, 1996 PC Subgroup on Selection Committee conducted 16 consultation activities in Hong Kong under the leadership of Lu Ping. Young_07_ch07.indd 107 20/04/2011 3:35 PM 108 Appendix 1 Apr 14, 1996 PC consultative meeting with representatives from different religious to decide how they would be represented in the Selection Committee (SC). May 12–14, 1996 PC Subgroup on SC (Meeting in Beijing) failed to agree on methods to establish SC, deciding instead to put off decision until October 1996. May 23–24, 1996 PC (3rd General Meeting, Zhuhai) resolved principles on the establishing SC. It was announced that establishment of SC would begin in August 1996, and CE and PLC elected by the end of the year. May 26, 1996 PC published the Consultation Report on SC. Jun 28, 1996 PC Subgroup on SC (4th Meeting, Beijing) reached a consensus on selection methods of SC [preliminary proposal]. Jul 13–14, 1996 PC Subgroup on SC (5th Meeting, Beijing) agreed on a final proposal, to be submitted to PC General Meeting for approval. Aug 9–10, 1996 PC (4th General Meeting, Beijing) passed the Decision on the Methods to Establish SC (Aug 10), prescribing the composition of SC, qualifications and requirements of members of SC, selection methods of members of SC. Aug 13, 1996 Hong Kong Government (Civil Service Bureau) issued Guidelines on Civil Servants Standing for SC Election, prohibiting certain groups of civil servants from standing for SC Election. Aug 15, 1996 Sep 14, 1996 SC application period. Aug 16, 1996 Senior Civil Servants’Association resolved to apply for judicial review of the Government’s Guidelines. Aug 17, 1996 PC aired TV ads on SC formation. Aug 19, 1996 PC Secretariat explained how to fill in SC application forms. Sep 13, 1996 Court of Appeal upheld the Government’s Guidelines, dismissing the judicial review application. Sep 25, 1996 PC Secretariat published list of SC candidates in newspapers. Oct 4-5, 1996 PC (5th General Meeting, Beijing) nominated SC members based on list of candidates. Oct 5, 1996 PC (5th General Meeting, Beijing) passed the Method of Selecting the First Chief Executive of the HKSAR, prescribing the 6 requirements of any CE candidate. Oct 11, 1996 PC Secretariat published notice on First Chief Executive election. Oct 12–23, 1996 Hong Kong delegates to CPPCC reached a consensus nominating 34 candidates to SC. Oct 14–28, 1996 CE application period. Out of a total of 31 applications received, 8 applicants were determined eligible to stand in 1st CE election and confirmed candidates. Oct 31, 1996 PC Chairmen’s Meeting confirmed a list of 409 SC candidates based on Oct 5 list. Nov 1, 1996 Oct 31 list submitted to PC (6th General Meeting, Beijing) and published. Nov 2, 1996 PC...