(1)外文名称: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)
    (2)中文名称: 香港特别行政区
    (3)内容:
         Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)
   The third annual session of the 7th National Peoples' Congress (NPC) adopted a decision on April 4, 1990, on establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) as of July 1, 1997.
   According to the decision, the Hong Kong SAR covers the
Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, and the islands and adjacent waters under its jurisdiction.
   A preparatory committee for the SAR was established in 1996 by the NPC, to prepare the establishment of the region. The preparatory committee was composed of mainland members and of Hong Kong members who constitute not less than 50 percent of
its membership. Its chairman and members were appointed by the NPC Standing Committee.
   The first government and the first legislative council, the
Provisional Legislative Council, were formed in December of 1996, in accordance with the principles of state sovereignty and smooth transition. The preparatory committee shall be responsible for preparing the establishment of the SAR. The selection committee, set up in November of 1996, were composed
entirely of permanent residents of Hong Kong and must be broadly
representative, including Hong Kong deputies to NPC, representatives of Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference CPPCC), persons with practical experience who have served in Hong Kong's executive, legislative and advisory organs prior to the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR, and persons representative of various sectors of society.
   The Selection Committee were composed of 400 members, with 25 percent from industrial, commercial and financial sectors, 25 percent from the professions, 25 percent from labor, grassroots, religious and other sectors, and 25 percent from former political figures, Hong Kong deputies to NPC and representatives of Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the CPPCC.
   The Selection Committee recommended Tung Chee-hwa for the first chief executive through election in December of 1996, who was then approved and appointed by the Central People's Government later that month. The term of office of the first chief executive shall be the same as the regular term.
   The chief executive of the SAR is responsible for the formation of the first government of the region in accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.
   The Provisional Legislative Council is composed of 60 members, with 20 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, 10 members returned by an election committee, and 30 members returned by functional constituencies.
   The term of the members of the first legislative council of the SAR shall be two years.