The Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) said in a statement on Tuesday that 351 residents have applied to participate in the election of the members of the 400-member Chief Executive Election Committee, competing for 344 seats up for grabs in an election in June.
Consequently, there are seven more applicants than seats available.
The election of the members of the Chief Executive Election Committee will be held on June 16. According to the Chief Executive Election Law, the 400-member Chief Executive Election Committee comprises 120 members representing the first sector (comprising the industrial, commercial and financial segments), 115 members representing the second sector (comprising the cultural, educational, professional and sports segments), 115 members representing the third sector (comprising the labour, social services and religious segments), and 50 members representing the fourth sector, which comprises: 1) 22 representatives chosen from among the city’s lawmakers; 2) the 12 local deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC); 3) 14 representatives chosen from among local deputies to the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); and 4) two representatives chosen from among members of the city’s municipal organs (Municipal Affairs Bureau).
The statement noted that according to the Chief Executive Election Law, 344 seats – 120 seats from the first sector, 26 from the cultural segment, 29 from the educational segment, 43 from the professional segment, 17 from the sports segment, 59 from the labour segment, and 50 from the social services segment – are up for grabs in the election of the members of the Chief Executive Election Committee.
The statement said that 120 have applied to participate in the election for the first sector, 26 for the cultural segment, 31 for the educational segment, 43 for the professional segment, 17 for the sports segment, 63 for the labour segment, and 51 for the social services segment.
The statement noted that there are two more applicants than the number of seats allocated for the education segment, four more applicants than the number of seats allocated for the labour segment, and one more applicant than the number of seats allocated for the social services segment.
The chief executive election is slated to be held in August.
Legislative Assembly (AL) President Ho Iat Seng is widely expected to be the only chief executive candidate. Ho, a businessman, said last week that he would formally announce his election bid “around” May 20.
