XN000022-1985-08-01 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1985

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR LEGCO STARTS TOMORROW

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NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL OPEN TOMORROW (AUGUST 2) AND CLOSE ON AUGUST 20.

NOMINATIONS MAY BE MADE DURING OFFICE HOURS ON ANY WORKING DAY (EXCLUDING SATURDAY) TO THE RETURNING OFFICER OR THE ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICER APPOINTED FOR THE CONSTITUENCY. A LIST OF THE SE APPOINTMENTS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE LAST FRIDAY (JULY 26).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION EXPLAINED THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES:

+FOR NOMINATION TO AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCY, THE PERSON DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED ELECTOR IN ANY CONSTITUENCY, ALTHOUGH HE HAS TO BE A REGISTERED ELECTOR UNDER THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL OR DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS. HE MUST HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR TEN OR MORE YEARS AND MUST BE SUPPORTED BY FIVE ELECTORS IN THE CONTESTED CONSTITUENCY.

+FOR A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, THE PERSON MUST HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL CONNECTION WITH IT AND MUST BE SUPPORTED BY TEN ELECTORS IN THE CONSTITUENCY. THE TEN YEARS' RESIDENCE RULE ALSO APPLIES AND HE MUST BE A REGISTERED ELECTOR OR, FOR 1985 ONLY, BE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS AN ELECTOR UNDER THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

CANDIDATES MUST SIGNIFY THEIR CONSENT TO NOMINATION AND DECLARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ON A SPECIFIED FORM. THEY MUST ALSO PLACE A DEPOSIT OF $2 000 WITH THE TREASURY BEFORE HANDING IN THE NOMINATION PAPERS IN PERSON OR BY HIS PROPOSER OR SECONDER, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LABOUR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY WHICH WILL HAVE TWO ELECTED SEATS, ALL OTHER CONSTITUENCIES WILL HAVE ONE SEAT. THERE WILL BE NO VOTING IF THERE ARE NOT MORE VALIDLY NOMINATED CANDIDATES THAN THE NUMBER OF SEATS. OTHERWISE, AN ELECTION FOR THAT CONSTITUENCY WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND AT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION AT HARBOUR CENTRE ON HARBOUR ROAD IN WAN CHAI.

THERE ARE 47 086 ELECTORS ON THE FINAL REGISTER, INCLUDING 433 REGISTERED IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES.

/THE OVERALL