State Council appoints Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor HKSAR chief executive

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) presides over the 7th plenary meeting of the State Council in Beijing, capital of China, March 31, 2017. The State Council decided at the meeting to appoint Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor the fifth-term chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Lam will assume office on July 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

The State Council decided at a meeting Friday to appoint Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor as the fifth-term chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Lam will assume office on July 1, 2017.

Premier Li Keqiang presided over the meeting and signed a State Council decree on the appointment.

Lam won the election to become the fifth-term chief executive of HKSAR on Sunday with 777 of 1,163 valid votes.

The election was conducted in line with the HKSAR Basic Law, relevant decisions of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and relevant laws of the HKSAR, Li said, adding that it "embodied the principle of openness, fair play and justice."

The result showed that Hong Kong society has extensive recognition, trust and expectations for Lam, according to the premier.

The central government will continue to fully and accurately implement the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy, and will act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law to ensure that the principle of "one country, two systems" is steadfastly applied in Hong Kong without bending or distortion, Li said.

The premier vowed the central government's full support for the chief executive and the SAR government in their administering of Hong Kong in accordance with the law, developing the economy, improving the people's quality of life, advancing democracy and promoting harmony.

The central government will "take effective measures to deepen cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, promote the development of a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, give play to Hong Kong's unique advantage, and raise Hong Kong's status and function in national economic development and opening up," Li said.

Li expressed his belief that Lam, after taking office, will unite and lead the HKSAR government and that people from all walks of life in Hong Kong will make pragmatic progress and forge ahead to maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and create a brighter future.

Vice premiers Zhang Gaoli, Liu Yandong and Ma Kai also attended Friday's meeting.