In accordance with Annex II to the Basic Law, the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC) is responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates for membership of the Legislative Council (LegCo). The CERC will decide whether the person concerned can meet the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC.
By the close of the nomination period of the 2021 LegCo General Election on November 12, a total of 154 nomination forms were received by the respective Returning Officers (ROs). The CERC has finished reviewing the nominations of all candidates and determined that 153 nominations are valid. One candidate for the Medical and Health Services functional constituency (FC) is determined as invalidly nominated as he is a prescribed public officer under section 39 (5)(f) of the Legislative Council Ordinance, and is thus disqualified from being nominated as a candidate pursuant to section 39(1)(a)(ii) of the Ordinance.
Candidates for geographical constituencies
By the close of the nomination period on November 12, the respective ROs received a total of 35 nominations involving 10 geographical constituencies (GCs). The CERC considered that all of the 35 GC candidates meet the legal requirements and conditions for upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC, and determined their nominations as valid.
Candidates for FCs
The respective ROs received a total of 68 nominations involving 28 FCs. One candidate for the Medical and Health Services FC, Mr Lau Tsz-chun, holds office (whether permanent or temporary) and is employed in a government department or bureau, i.e. he is a prescribed public officer as defined under the Ordinance and is not qualified for being nominated as a candidate. His nomination is determined to be invalid. The CERC considered that the remaining 67 FC candidates can all meet the legal requirements and conditions on upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC, and determined their nominations as valid.
Candidates for the Election Committee Constituency
A total of 51 nomination forms were received by the ROs. The CERC considered that these 51 candidates for the Election Committee Constituency can all meet the legal requirements and conditions on upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC, and their nominations are determined as valid.
The ROs concerned have informed all candidates of the decision of the CERC, and for the candidate concerned the reason why his nomination is determined as invalid. The CERC will publish a notice in the Gazette today (November 19), with names, addresses and candidate numbers of the 153 candidates who were determined to be validly nominated in fulfilment of the legal requirement.
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