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The nomination period for the third term Chief Executive election will begin next Wednesday (February 14) and end on March 1. A dedicated website providing relevant information and where various forms can be downloaded (www.elections.gov.hk) has come into operation.
"Any Hong Kong SAR permanent resident who is a Chinese citizen, with no right of abode in any foreign country, has reached 40 years of age, and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 20 years, is eligible to be nominated," a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) said today (February 9).
"A candidate's nomination shall be made by not less than 100 members of the Election Committee," he said.
Nomination forms are available from the REO on 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai and can be downloaded from the website.
A candidate is required to hand in his/her completed nomination form in person to the Returning Officer at his office on 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. The Returning Officer's business hours are from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays during the nomination period, except for general holidays.
Separately, the Electoral Affairs Commission has appointed Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, as the Returning Officer. Mr Justice Fung takes over from Mr Justice Louis Tong Po-sun who has some unforeseen court commitments which made it difficult for him to continue to serve as the Returning Officer. The relevant notices were published in the Gazette today.
Ends/Friday, February 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:06
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