Mr Tung's uncontested victory has saved taxpayers nearly $3.5 million, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission. But the $400,000 deposit to book the polling venue at the Convention and Exhibition Centre at Wan Chai has been wasted, with Mr Tung already being declared the winner. Describing the electoral process as being smoothly conducted, commission chairman Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing said only $3.42 million had been used. This included publicity and the cost of hiring more help at the Registration and Electoral Affairs Office during the past seven months. The appeal court judge would not be drawn on criticism that the election was a sham, after Mr Tung secured 714 nominations, effectively preventing other hopefuls from obtaining the 100 names required from the 796 Election Committee members. 'There is only one valid nomination. The only one valid candidate is then declared elected. That is provided by the law itself,' he said. Mr Justice Woo said the commission had less work to do in light of Mr Tung's success: 'When there are more than 700 nominations, no others can get enough valid nominations.' Under the law, Mr Tung has to declare his election expenses, capped at $9.5 million, within 30 days following today's government gazetting of his victory. The commission is to review the electoral process and submit a report to the Chief Executive within three months. Complaints will still be entertained 45 days after the end of the elections. Only one complaint against unfair media coverage has been received so far.
