HONG KONG - The Electoral Affairs Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said Monday in a statement that it has received a 2012 Chief Executive Election nomination form from Henry Tang, former Chief Secretary for Administration of the city government.

It said Returning Officer Justice Jeremy Poon is processing the nomination and will determine its validity in accordance with the law. A nomination form must be subscribed by at least 150 Election Committee members. Each member can nominate only one candidate.

Tang told reporters that he had received the support of 379 of the 1,200 election committee members.

Tang, 59, had joined the city's government since 2002 and served Hong Kong in three different positions, successively as Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Financial Secretary and Chief Secretary for Administration.

An election will be held on March 25, 2012 to select next Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The incumbent Chief Executive Donald Tsang is barred from seeking a third term.

The nomination period, which began on February 14, will run until February 29.

Tang was the second candidate to formally submit nomination papers. The first was Albert Ho, a lawmaker who is also head of a local political party.