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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today (May 27) released a new set of Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Chief Executive Elections.
The guidelines will apply to the forthcoming and future Chief Executive elections. Voting will take place on July 10 if more than one candidate is validly nominated.
Nominations for candidature in the election will be open from June 3 to 16.
Speaking at a press conference today, EAC Chairman Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing said: "A nominee must enlist at least 100 Election Committee members to personally sign his/her nomination form."
To qualify as a candidate, the nominee must also be a Hong Kong permanent resident aged 40 or above and a Chinese citizen with no right of abode in any foreign country. He/she must also have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 20 years before the polling day.
Madam Justice Chu Fun-ling, Carlye, a judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, has been appointed the Returning Officer for the election.
Nominees must personally hand in completed nomination forms to the Returning Officer at her office on 10/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday and between 9am and noon on Saturdays during the nomination period. Nominations will not be received on Sundays or public holidays.
The guidelines for the Chief Executive elections were finalised after the commission carefully considered the 15 written and two oral representations received during a two-week public consultation exercise in April.
"There is no substantial difference between the finalised guidelines and the proposed guidelines that were published in April," Mr Justice Woo said.
He called on all potential candidates to familiarise themselves with the guidelines before putting forward their nominations or conducting electioneering activities.
"Candidates, including those who have publicly declared their intention to stand for the election (whether or not they have submitted a nomination form), and their representatives can write to the commission to enquire about the interpretation or operation of the electoral guidelines," he said.
The newly released guidelines will apply to all Chief Executive Elections conducted under the Chief Executive Election Ordinance (Cap 569). The full text of the guidelines and more information on the Chief Executive Election are available at the election website, www.elections.gov.hk. General enquiries can be made on 2891 1001.
Notices on the nomination process and the appointment of the Returning Officer were gazetted today.
Ends/Friday, May 27, 2005
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