Hong Kong, SAR—The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC) announced Monday that all 161 individuals nominated for the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election have successfully passed the required scrutiny, validating their candidacies for the November vote. Operating under the framework of Annex II of the Basic Law, the CERC completed its assessment to ensure every candidate adheres to the legal requirements concerning allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and fidelity to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The official validation follows the conclusion of the nomination period, which ran from October 24 to November 6. During this window, Returning Officers processed 161 nomination forms spanning all three electoral streams: the 10 geographical constituencies, the 28 functional constituencies, and the Election Committee constituency. This comprehensive review guarantees that every individual progressing to the ballot meets the necessary political and legal stipulations set forth for joining the city’s legislature.
Ensuring Political Compliance and Allegiance
The core mandate of the CERC is to vet candidates based on their compliance with the reformed electoral system, which prioritizes “patriots administering Hong Kong.” This process involves a meticulous examination of a nominee’s past conduct and declarations to affirm their genuine commitment to upholding the Basic Law and pledging loyalty to the HKSAR government.
Following the successful review, the CERC has formally released the finalized list of the 161 eligible candidates. In an adherence to established legal procedures, official notices containing the names, residential details, and designated candidate numbers for these individuals were published in the Government Gazette on November 10.
The Role of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee
The establishment of the CERC represents a pivotal change in Hong Kong’s electoral landscape, focusing on proactive screening rather than relying on post-nomination challenges. The committee’s decision is considered final, ensuring political standards are met before the election campaigns commence.
The full validation of all 161 nominees means the election will proceed with a contest in all contested seats, providing voters across various sectors and districts with their choice of approved representatives. As the election moves forward, candidates will now ramp up efforts to engage constituents across the diverse electoral segments, with the ultimate goal of securing a seat in the seventh legislative term. The successful vetting process underscores the immediate implementation of the electoral reforms designed to stabilize and streamline Hong Kong’s governance structure.