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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The nomination period for the Legislative Council by-election for the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency will run from October 17 to 31. Polling will be conducted on December 2.
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee said today (October 15) that a candidate must be an elector aged 21 or above and have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for the three years immediately before the nomination.
"A nomination must be subscribed by 100 registered electors of the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency," he said.
Nominees must hand in the completed nomination form, together with an election deposit of $50,000, in person to the Returning Officer within the nomination period.
Apart from general holidays, nominations are accepted from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays.
The District Officer (Eastern) has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the by-election. His office is located at 11/F, Eastern Law Courts Building, 29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho.
Nomination forms are available at the Registration and Electoral Office at 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai and the District Offices. They can also be downloaded from the election website (www.elections.gov.hk).
Mr Justice Pang urged the 620,000 registered electors of the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency to vote in the by-election on December 2. Over 90 polling stations on Hong Kong Island will be open from 7.30am to 10.30pm.
"Each eligible elector can only vote for one candidate."
As in the Legislative Council Election in 2004, candidates can request to print on the ballot papers the names, abbreviations of names, and emblems of prescribed bodies; their personal emblems; and the words "independent candidate" or "non-affiliated candidate". The ballot papers will also show the names, candidate numbers, and photographs of the candidates.
An elector should use the chop provided to stamp on the ballot paper with a "tick" in the circle opposite the candidate of his choice, and fold the ballot paper in half before putting it into the ballot box.
Mr Justice Pang reminded electors not to use a pen to mark or correct the ballot paper, or the ballot paper may be rendered invalid. If an elector makes a mistake in marking the ballot paper, he should return the ballot paper to the issuing desk and request a new one.
The commission today released the revised Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Legislative Council Elections.
Mr Justice Pang urged all candidates to familiarise themselves with the guidelines before conducting electioneering activities.
The maximum election expenses a candidate can incur for this by-election is $2 million.
Candidates can apply for financial assistance if they are elected or have obtained 5% or more of valid votes. The amount of financial assistance payable to a candidate is $10 per valid vote, capped by 50% of the declared election expenses of the candidate.
More information about the by-election is available at the election website (www.elections.gov.hk). Enquiries can be made to the hotline, 2891 1001.
Ends/Monday, October 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:29
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