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The Home Affairs Bureau today (August 13) called on interested arts professionals to seek candidature in the 2007 Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) arts interest representative nomination exercise.
Under the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance, the Chief Executive may appoint up to 10 people nominated by the specified arts interests to be HKADC members. As the current term of office of HKADC members will expire on December 31, the Government has launched a nomination exercise for arts interest representatives in the new term.
The second phase of the nomination exercise - registration of voters - was completed on August 3. The number of registered eligible voters this year is more than 7000, which is a significant increase over 5337 in 2004. The two-week candidate nomination period will run from tomorrow (August 14) to August 27.
"We are pleased with the overwhelming response during the voter registration phase. The nomination exercise has now moved into its third phase, that is, the candidate nomination phase. We strongly encourage arts professionals to take up the challenge and stand for nomination to participate directly in the work of the HKADC in the development of the arts in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau said.
To stand for nomination, a candidate has to be a registered voter of the particular arts interest for which he/she is standing as a candidate. The candidate has to be nominated by at least five proposers, or 1% of the number of registered voters from the same arts interest (whichever is higher). A proposer must be a registered voter of the same arts interest as the candidate and may nominate one candidate in this nomination exercise. Based on the registered voter roll, the number of proposers required for each of the 10 arts interests is as follows:
Arts Interest Number of Proposers Required
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1. Arts Administration 5
2. Arts Criticism 5
3. Arts Education 5
4. Dance 17
5. Drama 5
6. Film Arts 5
7. Literary Arts 5
8. Music 6
9. Visual Arts 13
10. Chinese Opera (Xiqu) 12
"There will be a four-week electioneering period for the candidates after the close of the candidate nomination phase," the spokesman said. "A candidate forum will be organised by the nomination agent at which the candidates will have the chance to present their platforms and address their voters. The polling is scheduled for September 28 to 30."
Registered eligible voters will receive from the nomination agent the voter notification letters and candidate application forms within this week. Those who fail to receive these materials by the end of this week may contact the nomination agent, PR Concepts Company Limited, on 2520 2857 or by fax to 2527 8996. Registered voters can also download the relevant guidelines and forms from the Home Affairs Bureau website: http://www.hab.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, August 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:40
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