Hong Kong’s top election vetting body has confirmed that all 161 nominees for the upcoming eighth Legislative Council (LegCo) election are eligible to stand, including Olympic fencing gold medalist Vivian Kong Man-wai. The city’s Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Eric Chan, announced the final approval on Sunday, November 11, 2025, clearing the way for candidates to proceed with their campaigns across various functional constituencies and geographical sectors following a rigorous review process.
Rigorous Vetting Seals Candidate Eligibility
The official confirmation came days after the closure of nominations and the subsequent drawing of candidate numbers. The meticulous vetting process, designed to ensure loyalty and adherence to statutory criteria, concluded that every submitted application met the necessary requirements. All prospective lawmakers are now formally eligible to engage with constituents and present their platforms ahead of the election.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan provided clarity on the committee’s procedures, stating that candidates first submit application forms for initial review by returning officers. If the candidacies are considered prima facie eligible, they are then forwarded to the committee for comprehensive assessment against legal criteria. Chan stressed that the system remains “fair and impartial,” emphasizing that the ultimate choice rests with the voters. He also addressed lingering public concerns about the strict eligibility checks, asserting that they would not undermine the election’s credibility.
Kong Faces Scrutiny Over Sectoral Ties
Among the confirmed nominees is Vivian Kong, who is contesting the Tourism functional constituency seat. Kong, who achieved international fame by winning Olympic gold in épée in Paris last year, retired from competitive fencing and subsequently took on a role as an external affairs manager at the powerful Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
Her alignment with the tourism sector faced initial scrutiny, prompting the returning officer to seek clarification on her specific ties. Kong successfully defended her eligibility by citing her work, which included promoting horse racing tourism initiatives—a significant part of Hong Kong’s visitor economy. While the Chief Secretary declined to detail individual vetting verification steps, the committee’s final decision confirms her qualifications for the sector.
A Campaign Launch Misstep
Following the announcement, Kong briefly navigated a social media stumble. She initially posted her candidate allocation, mistakenly identifying herself as a contender in the Election Committee constituency and claiming candidate number M1. The post was quickly removed, replaced about an hour later with a corrected version affirming her true candidacy in the Tourism sector.
This incident underscored the need for precision during the electoral period. While candidate numbers were drawn days before, officials had advised nominees against using them prematurely until the Eligibility Review Committee issued its final confirmation. Chan reiterated that while the sequence for drawing numbers and checking eligibility may vary, candidates must await formal clearance.
Key Rival Focuses on Racing Tourism Platform
Kong’s primary rival in the Tourism constituency is Marco Ma Yat-chiu, a Kwun Tong district councillor and established travel agency operator, who holds candidate number M2.
Ma has leveraged racing-related tourism in his platform, mirroring Kong’s focus but emphasizing his long-standing experience in the travel trade. Ma recently published a “racing tourism” platform on social media, detailing his past successes in leading large tour groups to iconic venues like the Sha Tin Racecourse. He pledged that, if elected, he would actively collaborate with the travel industry and the HKJC to develop incentive policies aimed at expanding horse racing tourism routes, thereby enriching offerings provided by local agencies.
With the eligibility confirmed, all candidates, including the Olympic powerhouse and her established sector rival, are now fully cleared to intensify their campaigns, shifting the focus to platform merits and policy proposals in the run-up to the LegCo poll.