Leung Chun-ying

Leung Chun-ying, also known as CY Leung, was born on August 12, 1954, and is a prominent figure in Hong Kong's political landscape. A chartered surveyor by profession, he transitioned into politics in 1985 when he joined the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee, eventually becoming its secretary-general in 1988. His political career took a significant turn in 1999 when he was appointed the convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, a role he held until 2011.

In 2012, Leung ran for the position of Chief Executive of Hong Kong, initially seen as an underdog against front-runner Henry Tang. However, he successfully secured the position with six hundred eighty-nine votes from the Election Committee, bolstered by support from the Liaison Office. His tenure as the third Chief Executive lasted until 2017, during which he faced numerous challenges, including the anti-Moral and National Education protests and the Hong Kong Television Network protests.

Leung's administration was marked by significant civil unrest, notably the Umbrella Revolution in 2014, which drew global attention to the government's constitutional reform proposals. Following this, his government dealt with the 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest. Throughout his time in office, he faced scrutiny over allegations related to a payment of fifty million Hong Kong dollars from UGL, which led to investigations by the Australian Parliament.

His leadership coincided with rising social instability, localism, and movements advocating for Hong Kong's independence from Chinese sovereignty. In December 2016, Leung announced that he would not seek a second term, making history as the first Chief Executive to choose not to pursue re-election.