Legal person voters should register their respective representatives authorised to nominate candidates for the Chief Executive Election Committee, from 8 to 23 April inclusive, announced today the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election.
Candidates for the Chief Executive Election Committee should then submit their respective candidature applications to the Electoral Affairs Commission from 24 April to 7 May inclusive.
Commission President Ms Song Man Lei told reporters today, after the newly-appointed members of the Electoral Affairs Commission met for the first time this morning.
There is currently a total of 774 eligible legal person voters (i.e., registered associations with voting power for the Chief Executive Election Committee). The polling day to choose the members of the Chief Executive Election Committee has been set for 16 June. The Chief Executive Election Committee, a body representative of the broad community and comprised of 400 members from four sectors of society, will elect the next Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive election must be held at least 60 days after the polling day to choose the Election Committee members, according to the Chief Executive Election Law. The Chief Executive election date would be announced in due time by Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On, Ms Song told reporters.
Reporters asked Ms Song about procedures to be followed by principal officials and/or incumbent members of the Legislative Assembly who wish to run for Chief Executive. Ms Song said principal officials would have to either resign or retire from their respective posts, in order for their candidature applications to Chief Executive to be considered.
Should a Legislative Assembly member take part in the election as candidate for Chief Executive, that person would have to suspend their mandate as a lawmaker from the day of final admission of their candidature application, and until the results of the Chief Executive election are officially published, stated Ms Song.