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Qualifications for Candidates
4.
requirements
For
In many electoral systems there are designed to limit the number
the number and type of candidate.
example:
5.
(a) a deposit may be required which the candidate may lose if he fails to obtain a specified proportion
of the vote.
(In Hong Kong the deposit for
District Board and Urban Council/Regional Council elections is at present HK$1,000)
(b) there may be a requirement that the candidate be
registered as a voter in the constituency in which
he stands for election. Additionally he might be
required to be resident or have a registered place
of business in that constituency. (In Hong Kong
there are at present no such requirements);
(c) he may be required to obtain the support of
minimum number of supporters as nominators for his
candidacy. (In Hong Kong 10 registered electors
in the constituency are required to support a
candidacy).
There are in practice also other inhibitions on
standing for election, eg potential candidates may be deterred by the amount of time, effort and money required in campaigning, or be unwilling to accept the loss of social standing if they lose. In Hong Kong high quality
candidates with professional or similar careers might
consider these factors a significant deterrent.
Deposits
6.
a
In Hong Kong the size of the deposit is unlikely to be
barrier to candidates. Either they will have the
resources themselves or their supporters will contribute to provide the deposit required.
combine to
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