{{Short description|Hong Kong politician}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{family name hatnote|[[Li (surname 李)|Lee]]|Starry Lee|Lee Wai-king|lang=Hong Kong}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]] | name = Starry Lee | native_name = {{nobold|李慧琼}} | native_name_lang = zh-hk | honorific_suffix = [[Silver Bauhinia Star|SBS]] [[Justice of Peace|JP]] | image = Starry Lee 202601.jpg | caption = Lee in January 2026 | image_size = | order = 4th [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong|President of the Legislative Council]] | term_start = {{start date|2026|1|8|df=y}} | term_end = | deputy = | predecessor = [[Andrew Leung]] | successor = | office1 = Member of the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress]] | term_start1 = 11 March 2023 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = [[Tam Yiu-chung]] | successor1 = | office2 = Chairwoman of the [[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong]] | term_start2 = 17 April 2015 | term_end2 = 25 September 2023 | predecessor2 = [[Tam Yiu-chung]] | successor2 = [[Gary Chan]] | office3 = Member of the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] | term_start3 = 1 July 2012 | term_end3 = 17 March 2016 | appointer3 = [[Leung Chun-ying]] | predecessor3 = [[Lau Kong-wah]] | successor3 = [[Ip Kwok-him]] | office4 = Member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] | term_start4 = 1 January 2022 | constituency4 = [[Kowloon Central (2021 constituency)|Kowloon Central]] | predecessor4 = ''New constituency'' | term_start5 = 1 October 2012 | term_end5 = 31 December 2021 | constituency5 = [[District Council (Second)]] | predecessor5 = ''New constituency'' | successor5 = ''Constituency abolished'' | term_start6 = 1 October 2008 | term_end6 = 30 September 2012 | constituency6 = [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]] | predecessor6 = [[Tsang Yok-sing]] | successor6 = [[Ann Chiang]] | office7 = Member of the [[Kowloon City District Council]] | term_start7 = 1 January 2000 | term_end7 = 31 December 2023 | constituency7 = [[To Kwa Wan North (constituency)|To Kwa Wan North]] | predecessor7 = ''New constituency'' | successor7 = ''Constituency abolished'' | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|3|13}} | birth_place = [[British Hong Kong]] | death_date = | death_place = | birth_name = | citizenship = | party = [[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong]] | other_party = | spouse = | relations = | children = 1 | occupation = Councillor | profession = Accountant | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = Starry Lee signature.svg | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = | blank1 = | data1 = | education = [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]])<br>[[University of Manchester]] ([[M. B. A.|MBA]]) }} {{Infobox Chinese | order = | showflag = | c = 李慧琼 | j = Lei<sup>5</sup> Wai<sup>6</sup>-king<sup>4</sup> | y = Léih Waih-kìhng | p = Lǐ Huìqióng }}

'''Starry Lee Wai-king''' {{Post-nominals|country=HKG|SBS|JP|size=100}} ({{zh|c=李慧琼}}, born 13 March 1974) is a Hong Kong politician serving as the 4th [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] since 2026 and has been Hong Kong's only representative in the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress|Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress]] since 2023.

She has been a member of the Legislative Council since 2008 and chaired the largest [[pro-Beijing camp|pro-Beijing]] party in the city, the [[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong]] (DAB), from 2015 to 2023. She was also a member of the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] from 2012 to 2016.

== Early life and education == Lee was born on 13 March 1974 in Hong Kong into a working-class family and was raised in [[Ping Shek Estate]],<ref name="man2024">{{cite news |last1=Man |first1=Wai-kwong |title=Li Huiqiong yi laoshi bang gai Yingwen ming "Starry" yuanlai yu xingxing youguan|script-title=zh:李慧琼憶老師幫改英文名「Starry」 原來與猩猩有關|trans-title=Lee Wai-king remembers teacher who gave English name "Starry", turns out to be related to orangutans|url=https://www.hk01.com/%E6%94%BF%E6%83%85/1061609/%E6%9D%8E%E6%85%A7%E7%90%BC%E6%86%B6%E8%80%81%E5%B8%AB%E5%B9%AB%E6%94%B9%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%E5%90%8D-starry-%E5%8E%9F%E4%BE%86%E8%88%87%E7%8C%A9%E7%8C%A9%E6%9C%89%E9%97%9C-%E6%94%BF%E5%A3%87%E8%AB%B8%E4%BA%8B%E7%94%BA |work=[[HK01]] |date=29 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001110424/https://www.hk01.com/%E6%94%BF%E6%83%85/1061609/%E6%9D%8E%E6%85%A7%E7%90%BC%E6%86%B6%E8%80%81%E5%B8%AB%E5%B9%AB%E6%94%B9%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%E5%90%8D-starry-%E5%8E%9F%E4%BE%86%E8%88%87%E7%8C%A9%E7%8C%A9%E6%9C%89%E9%97%9C-%E6%94%BF%E5%A3%87%E8%AB%B8%E4%BA%8B%E7%94%BA |archive-date=1 October 2024 |language=zh-HK |url-status=live}}</ref> a [[Public housing in Hong Kong|public housing development]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Breaking the mould in Hong Kong politics|first=Bernard|last=Chan|date=30 April 2015|url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1781561/breaking-mould-hong-kong-politics|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602065912/http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1781561/breaking-mould-hong-kong-politics|url-status=live}}</ref> She attended Ping Shek Estate Catholic Primary School and FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=11 March 2023 |title=Li Huiqiong dangxuan Quanguo Renda Changweihui weiyuan cheng Xianggang lilai zui nianqing weiyuan| script-title=zh:李慧琼当选全国人大常委会委员 成香港历来最年轻委员 |trans-title=Lee Wai-king Elected to National People's Congress Standing Committee, Becoming Hong Kong's Youngest-Ever Member |url=https://zijing.com.cn/web/article/1305415923901644800/web/content_1305415923901644800.html |magazine=Bauhinia Magazine |location= Hong Kong |url-status= live|access-date= 26 January 2026}}</ref> where she was a head prefect in Form 6.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zong lingxiusheng lijie mingdan|script-title=zh:總領袖生歷屆名單 |url=https://www.szetoho.edu.hk/zh_tw/site/view?name=%E7%B8%BD%E9%A0%98%E8%A2%96%E7%94%9F%E6%AD%B7%E5%B1%86%E5%90%8D%E5%96%AE |website=FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School |language=zh-hk |trans-title=List of Past Head Prefects}}</ref>

She attained A grades for accounting and history in the [[Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination]]. When considering the two subject areas as career paths, her parents persuaded her to become an accountant because they believed those professionals led a more stable life.<ref name="man2024"/> She studied accounting at the [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]], during which she was part of the debate team.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Po-sang |title=Zhengtan zhushiding {{!}} Li Huiqiong huo ban Keda rongyu yuanshi zibao dushi shi you yi hanshi|script-title=zh:政壇諸事町︱李慧琼獲頒科大榮譽院士 自爆讀書時有一憾事 |url=https://www.hk01.com/article/820441 |work=HK01 |date=29 September 2022 |language=zh-HK |trans-title=Political Scene {{!}} Starry Lee Awarded Honorary Fellowship at HKUST, Reveals Regret from Student Days}}</ref><ref name="chan2018">{{cite book |last=Chan |first1=Tony F. |url=https://brill.com/downloadpdf/edcollbook/title/37943.pdf |format=PDF |title=Accelerated Universities: Ideas and Money Combine to Build Academic Excellence |chapter=Building and Sustaining Academic Excellence: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |editor-last=Philip G. |editor-first= Altbach |editor2-last= Reisberg |editor2-first=Liz |editor3-last=Jamil |editor3-first=Salmi |editor4-first=Isak |editor4-last= Froumin |publisher=Brill Sense |year=2018 |doi=10.1163/9789004366107_003 }}</ref>{{rp|p=41}} She graduated with a [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] in 1996.<ref name="chan2018"/>{{rp|p=41}}

After graduation, Lee became an accountant and worked for [[KPMG]] in Hong Kong.<ref name="Lo2019">{{cite chapter|last1=Lo|first1=Sonny Shiu-Hing|last2=Hung|first2=Steven Chung-Fun|last3=Loo|first3=Jeff Hai-Chi|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|title=China's New United Front Work in Hong Kong: Penetrative Politics and Its Implications|isbn=978-981-1384-82-0|doi=10.1007/978-981-13-8483-7|date=2019}}</ref>{{rp|p=46}}<ref name="Tsang2008">{{Cite web |url=https://tsangyoksing.blogspot.com/2008/05/laws-of-attraction.html |title=Laws of attraction |access-date=22 August 2008 |archive-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916094240/http://tsangyoksing.blogspot.com/2008/05/laws-of-attraction.html |url-status=dead|last=Tsang|first=Jasper Yok-sing|date=6 May 2008}}</ref> Before working for KPMG Hong Kong, Lee had also been employed by [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] and [[Crowe Global|Crowe]] Hong Kong.<ref name="xinyi"/>

She then obtained a [[Master of Business Administration]] from the [[University of Manchester]] in 2010 and a doctoral degree in laws from [[Tsinghua University]] in 2024.<ref name="xinyi">{{cite report|title=Declaration of the Final Dividend, Repurchase Mandate and General Mandate, Proposed Re-Election of Retiring Directors, Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Director and Notice of Annual General Meeting|format=PDF|url=https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0430/2024043001837.pdf|date=30 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

== District Council career == In the 1990s, Lee received political mentorship from Li Lin, a pro-Beijing district councillor.<ref name="Lo2019"/> At a self-improvement course, Lee met lawyer and DAB member Chiu Tse-kuen, who was running in the [[1999 Hong Kong local elections|1999 district council elections]] for [[To Kwa Wan North (constituency)|To Kwa Wan North]], where Lee lived. He invited her to campaign and visit contituents with him. However, when submitting his candidacy, Chiu discovered that he had not declared a change of address and was therefore ineligible to stand. Lee's efforts on the campaign impressed the party leadership, leading her to run in place of Chiu as a pro-Beijing independent.<ref name="Chai2022">{{cite book | last=Chai|first=Hi-Hing | trans-title=The Right Way: 30 Years of DAB|script-title=zh:正道：民建聯三十年 |title=Zhengdao: Minjianlian sanshi nian | publisher=Chung Hwa Book | publication-place=Hong Kong | date=1 July 2022 | isbn=978-988-8807-85-7 | language=zh-Hant }}</ref>{{rp|p=233}} A member of the [[Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions]], she campaigned as a [[trade union|unionist]].<ref>{{cite news|work=South China Morning Post|title=Urban renewal influences contest|date=15 November 1999| url= https://www.scmp.com/article/299678/urban-renewal-influences-contest}}</ref>

After a month of campaigning,<ref name="Chai2022"/>{{rp|p=233}} Lee was elected with 965 votes (70.6%), more than double the votes for incumbent candidate Lam Ming, who received 402 votes (29.4%).<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212081144fw_/http://www.elections.gov.hk/elections/dcelect99/eng/c21_eg.htm|archive-date=12 December 2003|url-status=dead|url=http://www.elections.gov.hk/elections/dcelect99/eng/c21_eg.htm|title=District Councils Election Results |date=29 November 1999}}</ref> At 26, Lee became the youngest district councillor.<ref name="Tsang2008"/>

She defended her seat with a wide margin in the [[2003 Hong Kong local elections|2003 elections]] with 1,392 votes (72.7%), defeating Richard Tse, who took 523 votes (27.3%).<ref>{{cite report |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 2004|title= 2003 District Council Ordinary Election: Report |url=https://www.eac.hk/en/elections/distco/2003dc_elect/report/detailreport.html |publisher= Electoral Affairs Commission|location= Hong Kong|chapter=Appendix IV: Results of the 2003 District Council Election |url-status= live|access-date= 13 February 2026}}</ref> That was despite a political environment unfavourable to the pro-Beijing camp.<ref name="Yuen2011"/>{{rp|p=212}}<ref name="Lam2016">{{cite news | last1=Lam | first1=Jeffie |last2=Fung|first2=Owen| title=Starry Lee, the cautious accountant battling to impose her authority | work=South China Morning Post | date=17 March 2016 | url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1926828/starry-lee-cautious-accountant-battling-impose-her-authority | access-date=12 December 2025}}</ref> In 2003, the camp faced its worst electoral defeat after the Hong Kong government tabled a controversial [[National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill|national security bill]], overall unpopularity of the [[Second Tung government|Tung Chee-hwa government]] and during economic malaise caused by the [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|SARS epidemic]].

In June 2004, she joined the DAB as the party sought wider support beyond its working-class base.<ref name="Yuen2011">{{cite book | last=Yuen | first=Kee-wang | title=Jian Gang xin lu: Yu Minjianlian de yuan yu fen | script-title=zh:建港心路：與民建聯的緣與份| publisher=Chung Hwa Book | publication-place=Hong Kong | date=July 2011 | edition = 1| isbn=978-988-8104-49-9 | language=zh-Hant}}</ref>{{rp|pp=212–215}} Along with [[Horace Cheung]], [[Gary Chan]], and [[Ben Chan]], Lee was considered part of the party's "second-tier" members of mostly younger professionals.<ref name="Chai2022"/>{{rp|p=232}}

After Tsang resigned as party leader for the DAB's poor performance at the election, he recruited Lee to join his candidate list for the [[2004 Hong Kong legislative election|2004 Legislative Council election]] to target young, professional and female voters.<ref name="Chan2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/561044/life-patriotic-camp|title=Life in the patriotic camp|newspaper=South China Morning Post|first=Quinton|last=Chan|date=21 August 2006|access-date=17 April 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131445/http://www.scmp.com/article/561044/life-patriotic-camp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | editor-last=Cheng | editor-first=Joseph Y. S. |chapter=The Implementation of the Principal Officials Accountability System: Efficacy and Impact |last1=Wong|first1=Timothy Ka-ying|last2=Wan|first2=Shirley Po-san| title=The July 1 Protest Rally: Interpreting a Historic Event | publisher=City University of Hong Kong Press | date=1 November 2005 | publication-place=Hong Kong|isbn=978-962-937-113-5 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/QUkA2wDC_kgC| oclc=1262679392|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref>{{rp|pp=205&ndash;209}}<ref name="Chai2022"/>{{rp|p=233}} She was listed third on a [[Ticket (election)|ticket]] of three candidates<ref name="WongLee2009">{{cite book | editor-last1=Cheung | editor-first1=Fanny M. | editor-last2=Holroyd | editor-first2=Eleanor | last1=Wong|first1=Pik-Wan|last2=Lee|first2=Eliza W. Y.|author1-link=Helena Wong (politician)|chapter=Gender and Political Participation in Hong Kong: Colonial Legacies and Postcolonial Development|title=Mainstreaming Gender in Hong Kong Society | publisher=The Chinese University Press | date=2009 | isbn=978-962-996-358-3 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/E2-DW9731skC | access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>{{rp|p=120}} and helped Tsang to win a seat in [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]]. By 2005, the party had targeted Lee for training, with Tsang as her mentor.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lo|first=Sonny Shiu-Hing|title=Competing Chinese Political Visions: Hong Kong vs. Beijing on Democracy|date=2010|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=9780313365058|via=Google Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JrD2EAAAQBAJ}}</ref>{{rp|p=181}}<ref name="Dupre2022">{{cite book |last=Dupré |first1=Jean-François |title= State and Majority Nationalism in Plurinational States |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003352815-2/making-hong-kong-chinese-jean-fran%C3%A7ois-dupr%C3%A9 |chapter= Making Hong Kong Chinese: State Nationalism and its Blowbacks in a Recalcitrant City |edition=1 |editor-last=Cetrà |editor-first=Daniel |editor2-last=Swan |editor2-first=Coree Brown |publisher=Routledge |year=2022 |doi=10.4324/9781003352815 }}</ref>

== Legislative Council career == [[File:Starry_Lee_Wai_King.jpg|thumb|Lee attending an edition of [[City Forum]] in 2008 as a LegCo candidate]]

In the [[2008 Hong Kong legislative election|2008 Legislative Council election]], Tsang switched his constituency to [[Hong Kong Island (1998 constituency)|Hong Kong Island]], allowing Lee to stand for the vacant seat he left in Kowloon West. Her campaign was run by Kan Chi-ho, who was also Tsang's campaign manager. Kan took Lee to meet community leaders to seek their support.<ref name="Yuen2011"/>{{rp|pp=215&ndash;216}} She was ranked first on the candidate list, before [[Chung Kong-mo]], [[Chan Wai-ming]], and [[Vincent Cheng Wing-shun|Vincent Cheng]].<ref name="eac2008">{{cite report |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 4 December 2008|title= Report on the 2008 Legislative Council Election Held on 7 September 2008 |url=https://www.eac.hk/en/elections/legco/2008/report.html |publisher= Electoral Affairs Commission|location= Hong Kong|chapter=Appendix VIII: Results of General Election: Geographical Constituencies |url-status= live|access-date= 13 February 2026}}</ref>{{rp|p=113}}

Lee's list received 39,013 votes (18.9%), the most in the constituency,<ref name="eac2008"/>{{rp|p=113}} allowing her to join the Legislative Council. As a new legislator, she was unfamiliar with many public policy issues and found it difficult understand them in a short period of time.<ref name="Yuen2011"/>{{rp|p=216}}

In 2011, she was elected vice-chairwoman of the party.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mok |first1=Danny |title=Starry Lee new DAB vice-chairwoman |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/965553/starry-lee-new-dab-vice-chairwoman |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211203417/http://www.scmp.com/article/965553/starry-lee-new-dab-vice-chairwoman |archive-date=11 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, she was appointed to the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] by [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] [[Leung Chun-ying]]. At the time, she was the only person to hold positions in three different levels of representative councils, the Executive, Legislative and District Councils. She served on the Executive Council until her resignation in March 2016 to focus on her work on the Legislative Council and the party. Her position was taken by [[Ip Kwok-him]], a long-time DAB legislator.<ref>{{cite news|title=CY Leung appoints Ip Kwok-him to Executive Council following Starry Lee's resignation|date=17 March 2016|first=Hermina |last=Wong|work=Hong Kong Free Press|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2016/03/17/cy-leung-appoints-ip-kwok-him-to-executive-council-following-starry-lees-resignation/}}</ref>

In the [[2012 Hong Kong legislative election|2012 Legislative Council election]], Lee left Kowloon West to contest one of five seats in the new [[District Council (Second)]] functional constituency that is elected by all voters in Hong Kong. Her ticket received 277,143 votes (17.4%), the second-most votes received behind the ticket of the [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]]'s [[James To]] that received 316,468 votes (19.9%).<ref>{{cite report |title=Report on the 2012 Legislative Council Election Held on 9 September 2012 |author=Electoral Affairs Commission |date=22 November 2012|url=https://www.eac.hk/en/elections/legco/2012lce/report/detailreport.html}}</ref>{{rp|p=156}}

On 17 April 2015, she replaced [[Tam Yiu-chung]] as the leader of the DAB, making her the first woman to hold the post.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minjianlian lingdao ceng gai xuan Li Huiqiong dangxuan zhuxi|script-title=zh:民建聯領導層改選 李慧琼當選主席 |url=http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150417/news_20150417_55_1092919.htm |work=[[Radio Television Hong Kong]] |date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417162000/http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150417/news_20150417_55_1092919.htm |archive-date=17 April 2015 |language=zh-HK |url-status=dead |trans-title=DAB leadership change ranks, Lee Wai-king elected president}}</ref> She was the youngest party chairperson at age 41; the transition was described as a generational shift.<ref name="Lam2016"/><ref name="Cheung2015">{{cite news | last=Cheung | first=Tony | title=Rising politician Starry Lee vows to rejuvenate DAB, Hong Kong's biggest party | work=South China Morning Post | date=17 April 2015 | url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1769004/rising-politician-starry-lee-vows-rebuild-hong-kongs-biggest | access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="x986">{{cite news | title = Li Huiqiong jieren Minjianlian zhuxi wancheng xinjiu jiaoti ji you tian pairen xuan teshou|trans-title=Starry Lee takes over as chairman of DAB, completing the transition from the old to the new, and hopes to appoint the chief executive candidate one day|script-title=zh:李慧琼接任民建聯主席 完成新舊交替 冀有天派人選特首 | work=[[Hong Kong Economic Journal]] | date=18 April 2015 | url=https://www.hkej.com/dailynews/hknews/article/1032336/%25E6%259D%258E%25E6%2585%25A7%25E7%2590%25BC%25E6%258E%25A5%25E4%25BB%25BB%25E6%25B0%2591%25E5%25BB%25BA%25E8%2581%25AF%25E4%25B8%25BB%25E5%25B8%25AD | language=zh-Hant | access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref> DAB legislator [[Leung Che-cheung]] commented that Lee was qualified but inexperienced to assert authority, unlike veteran politicians such as Tam or Ip Kwok-him.<ref name="Lam2016"/> Lee said that the party did not operate by personal authority but consultation and discussion.<ref>{{cite news|title=民建聯領導層改選李慧琼當選主席|work=RTHK|date=17 April 2015|url=http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150417/news_20150417_55_1092919.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417162000/http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150417/news_20150417_55_1092919.htm|archive-date=17 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On becoming leader, Lee said she aimed to take more seats in the [[2015 Hong Kong local elections|2015 District Council elections]] by focusing on voters who were against the [[2014 Hong Kong protests]], and to continue to support universal suffrage in Chief Executive elections from 2017.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

In March 2016, she resigned from the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] to focus on the DAB.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ye Guoqian dui huo weiren Xinghui chengyuan gan gaoxing|script-title=zh:葉國謙對獲委任行會成員感高興 |url=https://news.now.com/home/local/player?newsId=172432 |work=Now News |date=17 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901222331/https://news.now.com/home/local/player?newsId=172432 |archive-date=1 September 2021 |language=zh-hk |trans-title=Yip Kwok-him expressed delight at appointment to Executive Council}}</ref>

After Lee was re-elected in the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 election]], she succeeded [[Andrew Leung]] of the [[Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong]] (BPA) as the House Committee chairperson, the second-highest office in the Legislative Council.

On 18 May 2020, Lee was re-elected as House Committee chairperson. Prior to the vote, [[Chan Kin-por]], the nominee of Legislative Council president [[Andrew Leung]], had taken the seat of the presiding member – a position which had been held since October 2019 by pro-democrat [[Dennis Kwok]] – with the help of security personnel, and 15 pro-democratic lawmakers had been removed from the meeting room after scuffles had broken out; during Lee's election, three pro-democrats sat outside the room in protest. After the physical removal of the pro-democratic lawmakers, Lee was elected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3084822/hong-kong-lawmakers-thrown-out-key-legislative-council|title=Chaos at Hong Kong's Legislative Council as opposition lawmakers thrown out as pro-establishment bloc installs chairwoman on key committee|first1=Natalie|last1=Wong|first2=Jeffie|last2=Lam|work=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=18 May 2020|access-date=18 May 2020|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518045855/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3084822/hong-kong-lawmakers-thrown-out-key-legislative-council|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2020/05/18/breaking-hong-kong-pro-beijing-lawmaker-elected-committee-chair-despite-democrats-short-lived-protest/|title=Anthem law: Hong Kong pro-Beijing lawmaker elected committee chair as democrats carried out by security|first1=Jennifer|last1=Creery|first2=Rachel|last2=Wong|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|date=18 May 2020|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, Lee supported changes that would reduce the power of Legislative Council members, claiming that opposition members had blocked legislation and caused a power vacuum.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hong Kong lawmakers face temporary ban under new LegCo house rules|url=https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20210325/AZGXKKPOBFHRDGSBJJRPWI6JG4/|access-date=26 March 2021|work=Apple Daily|language=zh-hk|archive-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325153112/https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20210325/AZGXKKPOBFHRDGSBJJRPWI6JG4/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 2021, Lee and fellow lawmaker [[Holden Chow]] were criticised by the mother of [[Murder of Poon Hiu-wing|Amber Poon]], claiming that Lee and Chow were "vanishing" after holding a press conference in 2019 with her, to push forward the [[2019 Hong Kong extradition bill]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 October 2021|title=Hong Kong lawmakers and gov't officials shun meeting with mother of murder victim, security chief points to Taiwan|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/10/20/hong-kong-lawmakers-and-govt-officials-shun-meeting-with-mother-of-murder-victim-security-chief-points-to-taiwan/|access-date=20 October 2021|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]}}</ref>

During the [[2021 Hong Kong legislative election]], Lee dismissed concerns that the record-low voter turnout of 30.2% was problematic.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Political apathy drove voters away' - RTHK|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1625093-20211220.htm?|access-date=20 December 2021|work=Radio Television Hong Kong}}</ref>

In December 2021, Lee was re-elected through Kowloon Central constituency with 95,976 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Legislative Council General Election - Election Results |url=https://www.elections.gov.hk/legco2021/eng/rs_gc.html |access-date=5 February 2026 |website=www.elections.gov.hk}}</ref>

In January 2022, Lee, [[Andrew Leung]] and [[Ma Fung-kwok]] pushed for the [[National emblem of China|Chinese national emblem]] to be permanently added to the Legislative Council chamber.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Legco chamber gets 'solemn' makeover|first=Moon|last=Lam|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/237771/Legco-chamber-gets-%27solemn%27-makeover|access-date=7 January 2022|work=The Standard}}</ref> Leung had earlier said it would be only temporary for the swearing in of lawmakers.<ref name=":0" />

In August, Lee announced that 16 members of the DAB would travel overseas to clarify any "misunderstandings" businesspeople may have about Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DAB to visit ASEAN countries to promote Hong Kong - RTHK |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1664931-20220831.htm? |access-date=31 August 2022 |website=news.rthk.hk }}</ref>

In November, after a rugby match in South Korea played [[Glory to Hong Kong]] for the Hong Kong team, Lee said that Asia Rugby should apologise to "the [[Hurting the feelings of the Chinese people|entire [Chinese] population]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Kelly |date=14 November 2022 |title=National security police should investigate anthem error at rugby match, Hong Kong lawmakers say |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2022/11/14/national-security-police-should-investigate-anthem-error-at-rugby-match-hong-kong-lawmakers-say/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Hong Kong Free Press}}</ref>

== President of the Legislative Council == In September 2025, [[Andrew Leung]] announced his intention not to seek re-election as the [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong|President of the Legislative Council]] after the end of the [[7th Legislative Council of Hong Kong|7th legislative session]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/312824/LegCo-president-Andrew-Leung-to-step-down-after-nine-years-of-service|work=The Standard|title=LegCo president Andrew Leung to step down after nine years of service|first=Phoebe|last=Poon|date=29 September 2025}}</ref> In the [[2025 Hong Kong legislative election|legislative election in December]], Lee was re-elected through [[Kowloon Central (2021 constituency)|Kowloon Central]] with 53,529 votes (41.2%), a plurality in the constituency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Legislative Council General Election - Election Results |url=https://www.elections.gov.hk/legco2025/eng/results_gc.html |access-date=5 February 2026 |website=Registration and Electoral Office}}</ref>

On 2 January 2026, 10 Legislative Council members nominated Lee to run for [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong|President of the Legislative Council]]. Colleagues who supported her included [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]] Chairman [[Peter Shiu]], priest [[Peter Douglas Koon]], businessman [[Andrew Lam Siu-lo]], and DAB members [[Ben Chan]] and Jody Kwok.<ref name="mingpao2026">{{cite news|script-title=zh:陳振英李慧琼爭立會主席 周四分曉 將辦論壇述綱領答問 多黨稱不綑綁投票|title=Chen Zhenying Li Huiqiong zheng Lihui zhuxi zhousi fenxiao jiang ban luntan shu gangling dawen duo dang cheng bu kunbang toupiao|trans-title=Chan Chun-ying and Lee Wai-king vie for Legislative Council presidency, outcome to be decided Thursday, forum to be held to outline platforms and answer questions, multiple parties say no bloc voting|url=https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20260103/s00002/1767372945597|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108043120/https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20260103/s00002/1767372945597/%e9%99%b3%e6%8c%af%e8%8b%b1%e6%9d%8e%e6%85%a7%e7%90%bc%e7%88%ad%e7%ab%8b%e6%9c%83%e4%b8%bb%e5%b8%ad-%e5%91%a8%e5%9b%9b%e5%88%86%e6%9b%89-%e5%b0%87%e8%be%a6%e8%ab%96%e5%a3%87%e8%bf%b0%e7%b6%b1%e9%a0%98%e7%ad%94%e5%95%8f-%e5%a4%9a%e9%bb%a8%e7%a8%b1%e4%b8%8d%e7%b6%91%e7%b6%81%e6%8a%95%e7%a5%a8|language=zh-Hant|date=3 January 2026|work=Ming Pao|script-work=zh:明報|archive-date=8 January 2026|access-date=8 January 2026}}</ref> In the chamber before the vote, Lee said once elected she would no longer take part in meetings or decision-making of the DAB parliamentary group. She also promised "on principle" to abstain from voting on resolutions or expressing her opinion on policy issues. On policy, she said the council should accommodate the national [[15th Five-Year Plan]] and cooperate with the Hong Kong executive branch under an "executive-led" system<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112063350/https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20260109/s00002/1767895125937/%e6%9d%8e%e6%85%a7%e7%90%bc%e7%95%b6%e9%81%b8%e7%ab%8b%e6%9c%83%e4%b8%bb%e5%b8%ad-%e4%b8%8b%e5%91%a8%e8%ad%b0%e7%81%ab%e7%81%bd-%e6%8f%90%e3%80%8c%e8%a1%8c%e6%94%bf%e4%b8%bb%e5%b0%8e%e3%80%8d%e5%8e%9f%e5%89%87-%e7%9b%bc%e7%ab%8b%e6%9c%83%e5%b0%8d%e6%8e%a5%e3%80%8c%e5%8d%81%e4%ba%94%e4%ba%94%e3%80%8d|archive-date=12 January 2026|date=9 January 2026|work=Ming Pao|script-work=zh:明報|language=zh-hk|script-title=zh:李慧琼當選立會主席 下周議火災 提「行政主導」原則 盼立會對接「十五五」|trans-title=Lee Wai-king Elected Legislative Council President To Address Legislative Council Issues Next Week Proposes "Executive-Led" Principle Hopes Legislative Council Will Align with "15th Five-Year Plan"|url=https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20260109/s00002/1767895125937}}</ref> {{emdash}} a system of governance that favours a strong executive of career officials loyal to Beijing with weaker power and [[checks and balances]] from the legislative branch.<ref>{{cite book | editor-last1=Liu | editor-first1=Zhaojia | editor-last2=Lau | editor-first2=Siu-kai | title=The First Tung Chee-hwa Administration: The First Five Years of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region |last=Cheung|first=Anthony P. L.|chapter=The Changing Political System: Executive-led Governance or "Disabled" Governance?| publisher=The Chinese University Press | date=2002 | isbn=978-962-996-015-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vb70owE7O8AC | access-date=29 November 2024 | page=}}</ref>{{rp|pp=44–45}} Lee narrowly defeated [[Chan Chun-ying]], the pro-Beijing legislator for the [[Finance (constituency)|finance sector]], with 47 against Chan's 42.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cheng|first=Matthew|date=8 January 2026 |title=Hong Kong’s Starry Lee secures Legco presidency after 5-vote win over Ronick Chan |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3339124/hong-kongs-starry-lee-secures-legco-presidency-after-5-vote-win-over-ronick-chan |access-date=8 January 2026 |work=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

== National politics == In 2018, she was invited to sit on the 13th National Committee of the [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference]] (CPPCC).<ref>{{cite news |title=Zhengxie mingdan chulu Jingminlian fengshou 4 qian gaoguan shang bang|script-title=zh:政協名單出爐 經民聯豐收 4前高官上榜 |url=https://mingpaocanada.com/tor/htm/News/20180126/HK-gbl1_r.htm |work=Ming Pao Canada |date=26 January 2016 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260122110255/https://mingpaocanada.com/tor/htm/News/20180126/HK-gbl1_r.htm |archive-date=22 January 2026 |language=zh-Hant |url-status=dead |trans-title=CPPCC list released, great result for BPA, four former officials also on list}}</ref>

In February 2022, Lee did not attend the 2022 [[Two Sessions]] as a Hong Kong delegate.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Chris|last=Lau|date=19 February 2022|title=Beijing loyalists in Hong Kong weigh options on attending key political meetings|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3167680/coronavirus-beijing-loyalists-hong-kong-weigh-options|access-date=19 February 2022|work=South China Morning Post}}</ref>

In March 2023, Lee was elected to the National People's Congress and succeeded [[Tam Yiu-chung]] as Hong Kong's delegate to the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress]] (NPCSC).<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cheng|first1=Lilian|last2=Chan|first2=Kahon|last3=Wu|first3=Willa|date=11 March 2023 |title=Starry Lee becomes sole Hong Kong member of nation's top legislative body |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3213175/starry-lee-becomes-sole-hong-kong-member-nations-top-legislative-body-succeeding-veteran-politician |access-date=11 March 2023 |work=South China Morning Post}}</ref> In August, she announced that she would not seek re-election as DAB chair because of "limited time and work capability".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ng|first=Kang-chung|date=9 August 2023 |title=Hong Kong politician Starry Lee to quit as DAB leader after 8 years in role |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3230447/hong-kong-politician-starry-lee-quit-leader-citys-largest-party-after-8-years-citing-workload |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> [[Gary Chan]] succeeded her as party leader a month later.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wu|first=Willa|date=25 September 2023|title=Hong Kong's DAB elects new head who vows 'good governance' focus over vote chase |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3235758/hong-kongs-biggest-political-party-elects-new-leader-gary-chan-who-vows-reform-focus-citys-good |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

== Political positions == === Education === Lee opposed abolishing the [[Territory-wide System Assessment]] for Primary 3 students in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title= 被批評撐TSA 李慧琼：女兒聽到後感不開心|script-title=zh:Bei piping cheng TSA Li Huiqiong: Nuer tingdao hou gan bu kaixin|date=30 November 2015|work=Hong Kong Economic Times|url=https://news.hket.com/article/1015632/|language=zh-Hant}}</ref>

=== Same-sex relationships === Lee did not attend the 2026 vote on the [[Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill]], which proposed a framework to grant limited legal rights to [[same-sex partnerships]] recognised outside Hong Kong. She said she understood that same-sex partners "faced difficulties" in areas such as hospital visitation rights and [[inheritance]], but said the government should consider solutions without resorting to legislation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Li Huiqiong quexi tongzhi caoan toupiao chang yi lifa wai shouduan chuli|script-title=zh:李慧琼缺席同志草案投票 倡以立法外手段處理|trans-title=Lee Wai-king absent from vote on LGBT draft bill, advocates for extralegal means to address issue|url=https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E/article/20250914/s00002/1757786372580}}</ref>

== Personal life == Lee has a daughter with her husband, who works in the logistics industry.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.recruit.com.hk/Resources/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=25878|script-title=zh:由議會到家庭 李慧琼4角關係|title=You yohui dao jiating Li Huiqiong sijiao guanxi|trans-title=From Council to Family: Starry Lee's Four-Way Relationship|work=Recruit Magazine|date=12 March 2010|language=zh-Hant}}</ref>

==See also== * [[District Council (Second)]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Starry Lee}} *[http://www.starrylee.com/ Official Website of Starry Lee] *[https://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr16-20/lwks.htm HK Legislative Council - Members' Biographies]

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-new|constituency}} {{s-ttl|title = Member of [[Kowloon City District Council]] |district=[[To Kwa Wan North (constituency)|To Kwa Wan North]]|years = 2000–2023}} {{s-non|reason= Constituency abolished}} {{s-bef|before=[[Lau Kong-wah]]}} {{s-ttl|title = Non-official Member of [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] |years = 2012–2016}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ip Kwok-him]]}} {{s-par|hk}} {{s-bef|before = [[Jasper Tsang]]}} {{s-ttl|title = Member of Legislative Council|district=[[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]]|years = 2008–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ann Chiang]]}} {{s-new|constituency}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Legislative Council|district=[[District Council (Second)]]|years=2012–2021}} {{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}} {{s-new|constituency}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Legislative Council|district=[[Kowloon Central (2021 constituency)|Kowloon Central]]|years=2022–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-bef|before=[[Andrew Leung]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of House Committee|years=2016–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before = [[Tam Yiu-chung]]}} {{s-ttl|title = Chairman of [[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong]]|years = 2015–2023}} {{s-aft|after = [[Gary Chan]]}} {{s-par|cn}} {{s-bef|before = [[Tam Yiu-chung]]}} {{s-ttl|title = Member of [[National People's Congress Standing Committee|Standing Committee]]|district=[[Hong Kong SAR]]|years = 2023–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-prec}} {{s-bef|before=[[Wong Ting-kwong]]<br><small>''Member of the Legislative Council''</small>}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Hong Kong order of precedence]]<br><small>''Member of the Legislative Council''</small>}} {{s-aft|after=[[Gary Chan]]<br><small>''Member of the Legislative Council''</small>}} {{s-end}}

{{Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}} {{HKLegco}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Starry}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Hong Kong women politicians]] [[Category:Alumni of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester]] [[Category:Members of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress]] [[Category:Delegates to the 14th National People's Congress from Hong Kong]] [[Category:Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong politicians]] [[Category:District councillors of Kowloon City District]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2008–2012]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2012–2016]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2016–2021]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2022–2025]] [[Category:Hong Kong accountants]] [[Category:Hong Kong justices of the peace]] [[Category:Chinese women accountants]] [[Category:Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference]]