Starry Lee secures Hong Kong Legco presidency after 5-vote margin over Ronick Chan

Veteran Hong Kong lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king has been elected president of the Legislative Council, with the body scheduled to hold its first meeting of the new term on Wednesday next week to debate a government motion related to the Tai Po fire. Lee, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), narrowly defeated finance sector lawmaker Ronick Chan Chun-ying by a margin of five votes on Thursday. The race marked the first time two pro-government contenders had gone head-to-head for the position. “The eighth-term Legco has no adjustment period. The public expects us to start working immediately and tackle urgent issues of widespread concern,” Lee said after assuming the presidency. Among the legislature’s 90 members, only Election Committee constituency lawmaker Simon Hoey Lee was absent for the vote. Starry Lee secured 47 votes to Chan’s 42. She succeeded Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who stepped down after choosing not to seek re-election in last month’s Legco poll. She thanked Chan for running a high-quality and gentlemanly campaign. “Every fiercely contested election is difficult. Regardless of whether lawmakers voted for me or not, I will do my utmost to unite the legislature, work together to build a better Hong Kong and serve the residents,” Lee said. “As Legco president, I feel the immense responsibility. Hong Kong faces many challenges ahead with plenty of thorny issues … As long as we give our all, we can certainly rise to the challenges.” The legislature’s first major task will be the government motion discussing relief efforts and systemic reforms in response to the Tai Po fire, which broke out in November and killed at least 161 people. Lee said the motion would be tabled next Wednesday at the first Legco meeting of the new term. She also pledged that the legislature would support the government in proactively aligning with the country’s coming five-year plan for 2026 to 2030, and in better integrating Hong Kong into national development and the Greater Bay Area. The city’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s top legislative body, said she would gather opinions from all lawmakers with the help of local deputies to the national legislature, and relay them to Beijing at the coming annual “two sessions” meeting in March. As a member of DAB, the city’s largest political party, Lee dismissed concerns that her victory could lead to “one-party dominance”, emphasising that the key roles in Legco were allocated through coordination, taking into account the number of seats held by different parties. Lee also stated that she would not vote on bills or motions, in line with conventional practice. Lawmakers voted by secret ballot following a two-hour election forum on Thursday morning, during which both candidates took questions from 21 fellow legislators. Asked by lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong about ensuring impartiality in the presidency, both Lee and Chan cited their records of moderating meetings fairly and pledged that, if elected, they would not caucus with their respective political groups or publicly comment on government policies. Lee also said that only four meetings of China’s top legislative body would overlap with the Legco schedule each year. She stressed that her work as a lawmaker would remain her primary focus. “I will be present for the deliberation and voting on major issues. Like any other organisation, the legislature is not a one-person show; it is a collective body. If the president is absent, the [House Committee chair] will assist,” Lee said. In her opening speech, Lee said she could help Legco guide authorities in better integrating Hong Kong into the nation’s overall development. She also pledged to engage regularly with different political groups and bring various parties together to conduct policy research. “Amid a complex international landscape and geopolitical conflicts, risks to national security are ever-present. Legco needs a president who is experienced, firm and calm under pressure - one who can safeguard national security,” Lee said. The 51-year-old is the youngest Legco president since 1993, when the legislature’s top job was first decided by a vote among lawmakers. Lee, who first joined the local legislature in 2008, is among the most senior members of DAB. Speaking to the media after his defeat, Chan said he had given his best and respected the choice of his colleagues, adding that he would work closely with Lee to demonstrate the legislature’s solidarity and unity. “The vote margin does not really matter. A loss by one vote is still a loss, much like a 1-0 score line in football. So, I do not feel any resentment,” he said. He added that he was open to chairing the House Committee or the Finance Committee if his peers deemed him suitable for the roles. Starry Lee met Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu following her victory, with the pair discussing how Legco could help to refine government policies and further enhance constructive interaction between the executive and legislative branches. Beijing’s top office overseeing city affairs hailed the selection of the Legco president as a success of the “patriots ruling Hong Kong” principle and a demonstration of the new election system’s effectiveness. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in the early hours of Friday said that both candidates had served Hong Kong for years, possessing extensive legislative experience with notable achievements that had garnered widespread recognition. The voting was neck and neck until the final tally was announced. “The candidates engaged in earnest debate during the special forum, with other Legco members casting anonymous votes. The counting and verification of votes were conducted with meticulous care,” it said. “The new electoral system is an excellent mechanism that organically combines safeguarding national sovereignty, security, development interests, and the maintenance of Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.” The office added that the Legco president played a crucial role and bore significant responsibility. “We hope and believe the newly elected president will lead the Legislative Council in upholding the executive-led system, actively supporting the chief executive and the government to govern according to law, and jointly forging a new era of good governance,” it said. The office added that the president should lead Legco in engaging deeply with communities and sectors, connecting with the grassroots and pooling public wisdom to achieve high-quality deliberation and legislation, thereby better fulfilling its role in Hong Kong’s journey from governance to prosperity. Other responsibilities include leading Legco in implementing the code of conduct for councillors, strengthening self-management, self-supervision and self-improvement, while diligently discharging duties and demonstrating accountability.

Starry Lee secures Hong Kong Legco presidency after 5-vote margin over Ronick Chan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Beijing’s top office overseeing city affairs hails selection of Legco president as a success of ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’ principle

Beijing’s top office overseeing city affairs hails selection of Legco president as a success of ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’ principle