The DAB's Starry Lee was on Thursday elected as the Legislative Council's president after she beat the finance sector's Ronick Chan 47 votes to 42.

Legco members cast their secret ballots after they asked both candidates questions during a two-hour forum.

Lee and Chan were neck and neck as the votes were tallied. Lawmakers applauded when Lee's vote count hit 45 – the threshold needed for victory.

One councillor was absent and did not cast a ballot.

"Starry Lee received a total of 47 votes. I now announce her as the President of the Legislative Council," the Legco Secretariat's Secretary General, Dora Wai, said.

Secretariat staff then immediately destroyed the ballots following the announcement.

Afterwards, Chan told reporters that losing by just five votes didn't bother him, saying he's open to other roles in the council, including chairing the House Committee.

Chan felt he did his best during the debate to answer questions from fellow lawmakers.

"The result reflects the overall opinion of our members, I don't have any other opinion," Chan said.

"After this election, I will still cooperate in many other events, work together with Starry [Lee] for the solidarity and unity [of Legco], so as to move forward and complete all our tasks."

Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Priscilla Leung, who's been a legislator since 2008, said the debate was a model of high-quality, civilised democracy.

She said both candidates performed very well and allowed new legislators to know more about them and make informed decisions in casting their votes.
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Last updated: 2026-01-08 HKT 13:00