The Government announced today (September 19) the Chief Executive (CE)'s appointment of members of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC) commencing on September 19, 2022.
 
     Pursuant to section 9A(2) of the Chief Executive Election Ordinance (Cap. 569) (the Ordinance), the CERC is to consist of (a) the chairperson; (b) at least 2 but not more than 4 official members; and (c) at least 1 but not more than 3 non-official members. Section 9A(4) of the Ordinance further provides that only a principal official appointed pursuant to a nomination under Article 48(5) of the Basic Law is eligible for appointment as the chairperson or an official member.
 
     The CE has, pursuant to section 9A of the Ordinance, appointed Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration, as the Chairperson and Miss Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, as an official member of the CERC. Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary, ceases to be the Chairperson of the CERC as the above appointment takes effect.
 
     The appointment notice has been published in the gazette today and reported to the Central People's Government for the record. The membership list of the CERC commencing September 19, 2022, is as follows:
 
Chairperson
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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki
 
Official members
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Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai
Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak Mei-kuen

Non-official members
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Miss Elsie Leung Oi-sie
Mrs Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai
Professor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee
 
     In accordance with Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law, the CERC is responsible for assessing and validating the eligibility of candidates in the Election Committee, CE and Legislative Council elections. Pursuant to the assessment made by the National Security Department of the Police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR will decide whether a candidate complies with the legal requirements and conditions for upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, and issue an opinion to the CERC for those who do not comply with the legal requirements and conditions.

Ends/Monday, September 19, 2022
Issued at HKT 9:15

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