Leung Kwan-yuen elected president of HK Legislative Council

Leung Kwan-yuen (C) are seen at the first meeting of the sixth term of Legislative Council (LegCo) in Hong Kong, south China, Oct. 12, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Wang Shen)

Leung Kwan-yuen was elected president of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) at the sixth LegCo's first meeting on Wednesday.

The 65-year-old chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA), became the new president of the LegCo by winning 38 votes in a secret ballot. Under Article 71 of the Basic Law, the president of the LegCo is elected by and from among members.

"I hope that all members of LegCo, regardless of which group they come from, can have more communication and truly work for the happiness of 7 million Hong Kong people," Leung said.

Born in 1951, the four-time member of the LegCo obtained the Honors Degree at University of Leeds in England, and serves as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and honorary chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the Textile Council of Hong Kong.

Under Article 72 of the Basic Law, the LegCo president shall preside over all Council meetings; decide on the agenda and the time of the meetings; call special sessions during the recess and emergency sessions on the request of the SAR chief executive; and exercise other powers and functions as prescribed in the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council.