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Latest information on who have handed in nomination forms to run in the Legislative Council general election in September will be released on the web site, www.info.gov.hk/eac, every night during the two-week nomination period starting from July 20 (Thursday).

The general election will be held on Sunday, September 10 to return 60 Legislative Council members: 24 members will be returned by five geographical constituencies, 30 members by 28 functional constituencies and six members by the Election Committee.

"The platforms of all candidates will be recorded after the close of nominations. Members of the public are welcome to call a 24-hour hotline, 2815 3313, to listen to the platforms from mid-August," a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said.

"We shall compile a leaflet carrying the personal particulars, photographs and platforms of candidates for every constituency. The leaflet, a poll card, a voting guide and a pair of commemorative cards will be mailed to the homes of 3.055 million electors at the end of August," he said.

Any registered geographical constituency elector aged 21 or above who has ordinarily lived in Hong Kong for the three years immediately before the nomination, and who is a Chinese citizen with no right of abode in a foreign country, is qualified to run for a seat in the geographical constituency or the Election Committee election.

If a person chooses to run for a functional constituency seat, he must also satisfy the requirement of being a registered elector for a functional constituency or having a substantial connection with a functional constituency.

Candidature in 12 functional constituencies, however, is open to Hong Kong permanent residents who are not of Chinese nationality or who have the right of abode in a foreign country. These 12 functional constituencies are: legal; accountancy; engineering; architectural, surveying and planning; real estate and construction; tourism; commercial (first); industrial (first); finance; financial services; import and export, and insurance.

Nomination forms are available at any District Offices, the relevant Returning Officer's office, and the Registration and Electoral Office on the 10th floor, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

The Electoral Affairs Commission has appointed 26 Returning Officers and 54 Assistant Returning Officers, who are District Officers and officials from various bureaus and departments, to receive nominations and take charge of various electoral duties.

"A nomination form must be handed in to the relevant Returning Officer in person by a candidate, or by one of the candidates on a geographical constituency list, before 5 pm on August 2," the spokesman said.

Each list of candidates running in the geographical constituency election must enlist the support of at least 100 registered electors of the constituency the list is contesting, and pay a deposit of $50,000.

For the functional constituencies and the Election Committee, each nomination must be subscribed by at least 10 registered electors of the constituency concerned and a deposit of $25,000 must be paid.

The spokesman advised candidates to solicit the support of more than the required minimum number of subscribers in case some of the subscribers may be found not qualified after the close of nominations.

Enquiries about nomination matters may be made on the election hotline, 2891 1001.

End/Monday, July 17, 2000

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