Rural By-election gazetted

     â€‹The Government gazetted the Rural By-election today (October 10). Fifty-eight Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from October 22 to November 4.

     The by-election will return one Resident Representative (ReR) for each of the 35 Existing Villages, one Indigenous Inhabitant Representative (IIR) for each of the 22 Indigenous Villages, and one Kaifong Representative (KFR) for one Market Town (Cheung Chau). The 35 Existing Villages are Po Toi, Ngau Kwu Long, Pui O Lo Wai, Sha Lo Wan, Luk Keng Wong Uk, Nam Chung, San Tsuen, Wu Shek Kok, Shek Chung Au, Kam Tsin, Nga Yiu Ha, Lung Mei, Ma Nam Wat, Nam Wai, Pak Kong Au, Pak Tam Chung, Ping Tun, Sai Wan, Hoi Pong Street, Mui Tsz Lam, Ha Yeung, Pak Sha O, Ping Chau Sha Tau, Uk Tau, Fung Yuen, Kam Shan Village, Kau Lung Hang, Ma Wo Tsuen, Lin Au Cheng Uk, San Tsuen (Lam Tsuen), Tin Liu Ha, Ham Tin, Sai Lau Kok, Sheung Kwai Chung and Tseng Tau Tsuen (Upper); whereas the 22 Indigenous Villages are Po Toi, Sok Kwu Wan, Pui O Lo Wai, Wu Shek Kok, Mang Kung Uk, Pan Long Wan, Long Ke, Mau Ping New Village, Pak Tam Chung, Wong Keng Tsai, Ko Tong, Kei Ling Ha San Wai, Lai Chi Chong, Pak Tam Au, Tung Sam Kei, Uk Tau, Cheung Uk Tei, To Yuen Tung, Tong Sheung Tsuen, Yin Ngam, Sam Tung Uk and Sham Tseng.

     For the IIR By-election, a candidate must be an indigenous inhabitant of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village as well as an elector of the relevant Village and ordinarily resides in Hong Kong. For the ReR and KFR By-elections, a candidate must be a resident of the relevant Existing Village/Market Town and have resided there for six years immediately preceding the nomination. The candidate must also be an elector of the relevant Village/Market Town.

     All candidates must be Hong Kong permanent residents aged 21 or above and must be nominated by at least five registered electors from that Village/Market Town. No person is allowed to stand as a candidate in more than one type of election (i.e. IIR, ReR or KFR By-elections).

     Nomination forms are available at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the New Territories District Offices (NTDOs) and the Rural Representative Election (RRE) website (www.had.gov.hk/rre).

     Completed nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer concerned between 9am and 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, except general holidays.

     A gazette notice on all valid nominations will be published within 14 days after the nomination period. Each validly nominated candidate will be informed separately.

     A spokesman for the HAD said that if there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same Indigenous Village, Existing Village or Market Town, a poll would be held for that Village/Market Town on December 1 (Sunday). Eligible electors will receive a polling notice which specifies the date, time and place of the poll.

     For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or contact the respective NTDO. Members of the public can also visit the RRE website for more information.