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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
Notices on the nomination and the appointment of the Returning Officer for the fourth term Chief Executive Election were published in the Gazette today (December 23).
The Chief Executive Election will be held on March 25, 2012. The nomination period will run from February 14 to 29, 2012.
A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 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 qualified to be nominated as a candidate. Details on the qualification and disqualification for nomination as a candidate are set out in sections 13 and 14 respectively of the Chief Executive Election Ordinance.
A candidate's nomination must be subscribed by not less than 150 members of the Election Committee.
A candidate is required to submit in person a completed nomination form to the Returning Officer on 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, during the nomination period. Nomination forms are available from the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) and can be downloaded from the REO website (www.reo.gov.hk).
Mr Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor, a judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, has been appointed by the Electoral Affairs Commission as the Returning Officer for the election.
"Candidates and their agents should abide by the Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Chief Executive Election and strictly observe the relevant legislation," a Commission spokesman said.
According to the electoral guidelines, if any organisation invites a candidate to take part in an election forum, all other candidates should also be invited in order that all candidates have an equal opportunity to present their election platforms.
If the organisation invites only some, but not all the candidates to take part in the forum, the forum may be regarded as an election meeting. In such circumstances, the relevant organisation must note and follow the regulations on election expenses stipulated in the electoral guidelines and the legislation.
Copies of the guidelines can be obtained at the REO and the Public Enquiry Service Centres of District Offices. They can also be downloaded from the Commission's website (www.eac.gov.hk).
For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.
Ends/Friday, December 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:38
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