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A Legislative Council by-election will be held on Sunday, December 10 to fill a seat in the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency, the Registration and Electoral Office announced.

The Clerk to the Legislative Council declared today (September 22) the existence of a vacancy in the membership of the Legislative Council. According to the Legislative Council Ordinance, the Electoral Affairs Commission must arrange for a by-election.

The nomination period will run from October 20 to November 2, a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said.

A notice setting out the dates for the by-election and the nomination period will be gazetted on October 5.

"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 the seat," he said.

The list system will continue to be used at the by-election. Each list may have only one candidate and the candidate must obtain the support of at least 100 registered electors of the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency. A deposit of $50,000 is required when the candidate submits the nomination form to the Returning Officer.

Nomination forms will be made available in mid-October at the Registration and Electoral Office on the 10th floor, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, and any District Offices.

Enquiries about the by-election may be made on the election hotline - 2891 1001.

End/Friday, September 22, 2000

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