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A total of 918 nominations for the 2007 District Council election were received by Returning Officers of the 18 districts during the two-week nomination period. Nominations started on October 2 and closed at 5pm today (October 15).
Fifty-eight more nominees handed in their nominations to Returning Officers in 16 districts today.
A total of five nominees have handed in the notice of withdrawal of candidature to the Returning Officers in four districts. Ms Woo Yan-yue withdrew from the poll in Nam Cheong Central and Mr Wu Fuk-cham withdrew from the poll in Ha Pak Tin of the Sham Shui Po District, Mr Mok Wai-leung from the poll in O Tong of the Sai Kung District and Mr Choi Lung-wai from the poll in Hanford of the Tuen Mun District today. Mr Mok Kwan-hung withdrew from the poll in Mong Kok West of the Yau Tsim Mong District on October 13.
A full list of all validly nominated candidates for the election will be published in the Government Gazette after the eligibility of candidature of the nominees has been validated and confirmed by Returning Officers.
Two briefing sessions will be held for candidates at Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay.
Candidates of the nine districts in Hong Kong and Kowloon will be briefed on Wednesday (October 17), while the briefing session for candidates of the other nine districts in the New Territories and Islands will be held on Thursday (October 18).
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee, 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 will help candidates of their respective districts to determine by drawing lots the order of their names on ballot papers and the allocation of designated spots for election advertisements.
There are 405 constituencies in the 18 districts across Hong Kong. Polls will be held on November 18 for constituencies with more than one validly nominated candidate.
The breakdown of nominations by districts is as follows:
October 15 Accumulative Total
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Hong Kong Island
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Central and Western 5 35
Wan Chai 4 26
Eastern 0 74
Southern 3 37
Kowloon
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Yau Tsim Mong 10 47
(1 candidate withdrawn)
Sham Shui Po 2 46
(2 candidates withdrawn)
Kowloon City 2 53
Wong Tai Sin 0 50
Kwun Tong 2 70
New Territories
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Tsuen Wan 3 39
Tuen Mun 4 64
(1 candidate withdrawn)
Yuen Long 2 68
North 5 48
Tai Po 2 41
Sai Kung 3 51
(1 candidate withdrawn)
Sha Tin 5 79
Kwai Tsing 5 62
Islands 1 28
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Total 58 918
Particulars of the candidates, including their names, genders, occupations and political affiliations, will be available at the election website at www.elections.gov.hk/dc2007/eng/nomination_received.html.
Ends/Monday, October 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:10
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