| Saturday, November 10, 2001, updated at 14:39(GMT+8) |
HK Chief Executive Election Procedure Regulation Gazetted |
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The statutory procedures for conducting an election on March 24 next year to elect Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are set out in a regulation gazetted Friday, which provides for the procedure for handling nominations for candidature, the appointment of agents to help candidates conduct campaigns, and the arrangements for conducting the poll and the counting of votes.
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The statutory procedures for conducting an election on March 24 next year to elect Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are set out in a regulation gazetted Friday.
The regulation provides for the procedure for handling nominations for candidature, the appointment of agents to help candidates conduct campaigns, and the arrangements for conducting the poll and the counting of votes. There are provisions ensuring impartiality of electoral officers and the secrecy of the vote.
The Electoral Procedure (Chief Executive Election) Regulation, made by the Electoral Affairs Commission, will be tabled in the Legislative Council next week.
"This is the first time that the Electoral Affairs Commission supervises the Chief Executive election. We shall build on our experience in conducting council elections and take appropriate steps to ensure that the election is conducted fairly, openly and honestly," a spokesman for the Electoral Affairs Commission said.
"The procedures, where applicable, are modeled on those of Legislative Council elections with modifications to cater for the distinctive features of the Chief Executive election," he said.
Explaining the key provisions, the spokesman said: "A prospective candidate is required to submit a completed nomination form in person, or in any other manner authorized, to the
Returning Officer, who will be a judge of the High Court or above."
Under the Chief Executive Election Ordinance, the Chief Executive shall be elected by the Election Committee, which is to consist of 800 members who must be Hong Kong permanent residents.
The nomination form must carry the signatures of at least 100 members of the Election Committee making the nomination, and must be accompanied by declarations as required under the Ordinance.
"As the election may have more than one round of voting, the regulation stipulates that not more than three rounds of voting can be conducted on the polling day," the spokesman said.
If no candidate gets the absolute majority of valid votes in the first three rounds of voting, the fourth or subsequent rounds of voting will be held on the day immediately following the polling day, he said.
Votes will be counted manually in a way similar to arrangements for council elections. Candidates, counting agents and electors may enter and stay in the counting station. Members of the public may observe the count in a designated area, according to the spokesman.
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