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A total of 846 nominations for the 2003 District Council Election were received by Returning Officers during the two-week nomination period from October 2 to today (October 15).
Fifty-one more nominees handed in their nominations to Returning Officers in 16 districts today. No nominations were received in the other 2 districts.
A total of five nominees have handed in the notice of withdrawal of candidature to the Returning Officers in four districts. Mr Leung Chun-tung withdrew from the poll in Tin Ping West of the North District, Mr Fong Man Sang from the poll in Lamma and Po Toi of the Islands District, and Mr Lai Wai Tong Alan from the poll in Fung Tak of the Wong Tai Sin District today. Mr Chan Man Chun withdrew from the poll in South Horizons West of the Southern District on October 13 and Mr Chow Hing Wong Sammy from the poll in South Horizons East of the Southern District on October 14.
A full list of candidates for the election will shortly be published in the government gazette after validation checks for the nominations have been carried out to confirm nominees' eligibility for candidature.
Two briefing sessions will be organised for the candidates this Saturday (October 18) at Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay.
Candidates in nine districts in Hong Kong and Kowloon will be briefed in the morning session, which will start at 10 am. Those in the other nine districts in the New Territories and Islands will attend the afternoon session, which will begin at 2.30 pm.
The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, will chair both sessions and advise candidates on the important points to note in running their election campaigns and on general electoral arrangements.
Representatives from the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Post Office will also be present.
Returning Officers in 18 districts will help candidates in their respective constituency to determine, by mutual agreement or drawing lots, the order of their names on ballot papers and the allocation of designated spots for election advertisements.
A total of 400 District Council members for the 18 District Councils, one for each constituency, will be elected on November 23.
The breakdown of nominations by district is:
October 15 Accumulative total
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Central and Western 1 30
Wan Chai 3 23
Eastern 4 73
Southern 0 35
Yau Tsim Mong 3 40
Sham Shui Po 5 45
Kowloon City 1 53
Wong Tai Sin 3 53
Kwun Tong 0 70
Tsuen Wan 5 38
Tuen Mun 1 59
Yuen Long 6 63
North 2 34
Tai Po 4 41
Sai Kung 3 41
Sha Tin 4 68
Kwai Tsing 5 61
Islands 1 19
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Total 51 846
Personal particulars of nominees including their constituency, name, sex,
occupation and political affiliation will be available later at the 2003
District Council Election website (http://www.elections.gov.hk).
End/Wednesday, October 15, 2003
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