XN000022-1985-07-26 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1985

CANDIDATE NOMINATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE

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CANDIDATE NOMINATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WISH TO TAKE PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (ELECTORAL SERVICES), MR LAI KWAN-TAT, POINTED OUT TODAY THAT NOMINATIONS WILL BE CALLED ON AUGUST 2. BUT FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, THE FORMS ARE NOW OBTAINABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND FROM THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION AT HARBOUR CENTRE IN WAN CHAI.

THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS COMPRISING OR FORMING PART OF A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY MAY ALSO OBTAIN FORMS FROM THEIR ORGANISATIONS, HE ADDED.

A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY FORMALLY DECLARES SEPTEMBER 26 THIS YEAR AS THE DATE FOR HOLDING THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG.

MR LAI EXPLAINED THAT THIS DATE WAS CHOSEN ON OPERATIONAL GROUNDS.

+THE ELECTIONS HAVE TO BE CONCLUDED A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SEPTEMBER 26 IS PRACTICALLY THE LAST DAY IN THAT MONTH SUITABLE FOR THE OPERATION. IT IS A THURSDAY WHICH WILL NOT CLASH WITH ANY MAJOR SOCIAL OR SPORTING EVENT, AND WHICH WILL LEAVE A LITTLE TIME FOR TIDYING UP BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK, HE SAID.

ALSO ANNOUNCED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE ARE APPOINTMENTS OF RETURNING OFFICERS AND ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICERS FOR THE ELECTIONS.

FOR DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE DISTRICT OFFICERS ARE APPOINTED AS RETURNING OFFICERS FOR DISTRICTS OTHER THAN THEIR OWN. AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER IN EACH DISTRICT WILL ACT AS ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICER FOR HIS OWN DISTRICT AND TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS.

THE SECRETARY, URBAN COUNCIL AND THE SECRETARY, PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BE RETURNING OFFICERS FOR THEIR OWN COUNCIL. THE IR DEPUTIES ARE APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICERS, ALSO FOR THEIR OWN COUNCIL.

IN RESPECT OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (ELECTORAL SERVICES) WILL BE THE RETURNING OFFICER, ASSISTED BY THE REGISTRATION OFFICER AND ASSISTANT REGISTRATION OFFICERS IN THE CAPACITY OF ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICERS.

RETURNING OFFICERS HAVE THE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPERVISING THE ELECTIONS AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY WILL DO IS TO CALL FOR NOMINATIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONSTITUENCY NEXT FRIDAY (AUGUST 2).

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