Polling days set for HK’s legislature, chief executive and election committee

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor revealed the dates for the city's three major forthcoming elections on Tuesday.

The election for the Election Committee is scheduled for Sept 19. The election will select 1,500 committee members responsible for nominating and electing the city's next chief executive.

The Legislative Council election, which was postponed at least one year due to the pandemic, is scheduled for Dec 19, and the Chief Executive election is slated for March 27, 2022.

The information came one day before the Hong Kong government is expected to submit the amendment bill related to the city's electoral system to the Legislative Council.

The draft bill was approved by the Executive Council on Tuesday.

Lam said the revisions covered in the bill aim both to implement the new Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law amended by the Standing Committee of the National People Congress, and improving the voting procedure and arrangements of the city's major elections.

As per the NPCSC's amendments, there shall be 10 geographical constituencies for lawmakers through direct elections. Two members shall be returned from each geographical constituency.

Lam said the bill proposed to set five constituencies in New Territories, three in Kowloon and two in Hong Kong Island.

It also proposed to empower the chief executive to appoint a chairperson and two to four members of a to-be-established vetting committee, which will be responsible of vetting candidates running for chief executive, legislative seats and Election Committee members, Lam said.