Candidates are not allowed to pull out of the Legislative Council polls after they are nominated, election watchdog chief Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing said yesterday.
Nor could the order of candidates on their lists be changed before polling day, the Electoral Affairs Commission chairman said.
According to the Legislative Council Ordinance, a candidate is unable to opt out of the race unless he or she dies, is jailed or is found to be of unsound mind. But a candidate can refuse to accept the office after being elected.
Mr Justice Woo declined to say whether he thought such laws should be changed. 'This is not for us [the commission] to review. It is a matter for the Government and Legco,' he said.
Academics said that allowing candidates to leave the race would put the fairness of the polls into question. Ivan Choy Chi-keung, lecturer of the social studies division at City University, said candidates might make use of the laws to scare away rivals.
'Candidates can invite a political heavyweight to join their list and then ask that heavyweight to quit the race when the candidates find their seats are secure,' he said.