Officials are considering whether to allow politically affiliated candidates to stand for Chief Executive in 2002, according to a government source. Affiliations were banned in the first selection in 1996. The topic will form part of a bill governing the 2002 election. A Constitutional Affairs Bureau spokesman said draft legislation was scheduled to be tabled in the middle of next year. Procedures for the Chief Executive's appointment by the central Government will also be considered. According to a regulation passed by the now-defunct Preparatory Committee in October 1996, those intending to run for the first Chief Executive post had to be nominated in their personal capacity. People with political affiliations had to resign from their parties or groups before entering the contest. Another area to be studied is the mechanism for dealing with complaints, the source said. In 1996, the chairmen's committee of the Preparatory Committee was responsible for monitoring the election and handling complaints. Another source said proposals to regulate political parties will go ahead after the September elections. The Constitutional Affairs Bureau said parties and independent politicians would be consulted on whether a law should be introduced. Parties are currently registered as limited companies or come under the Societies Ordinance. The new law will cover details such as the registration of party names and logos as well as declaration of donations. An official denied the law was aimed at restricting party activities, saying the registration and the use of party names and logos could guard against abuse by other parties.
