A mainland official yesterday predicted the Legislative Council would be filled mostly with people who 'loved Hong Kong and the country' after September's elections.
Li Gang, deputy director of the central government's liaison office, said: 'Only in this way can Hong Kong uphold 'one country, two systems', 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong', and maintain the city's prosperity and stability.'
He also called on all voters to treasure the opportunity to cast a vote. But he refused to be drawn on whether any one of the candidates did not 'love Hong Kong and the country'.
Mr Li's remarks came as parties and independents announce candidacies in the run-up to the opening of applications on Thursday.
Legco president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, who is to announce her candidacy today, told a Commercial Radio show that her desire to run in a geographical constituency was to 'fulfil a wish'.
'I've longed to stand for direct election, but I didn't have sufficient time before,' she said. Now she would have more time to learn how to carry out district work, she said. Mrs Fan is expected to run in the Hong Kong Island constituency.
Yesterday the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood approved a list of six candidates for the election.
