42 Hong Kong candidates to compete in election next week for 36 spots on China’s legislature
- Chief Executive John Lee says the 42 have secured at least 15 nominations from electoral college before deadline on November 30
- New contenders in poll include former transport minister Frank Chan, education union head Wong Kam-leung and DAB chairwoman Starry Lee
Forty-two Beijing-friendly candidates in Hong Kong will compete in an election before Christmas for 36 spots on China’s top legislature after their candidacy was approved by local authorities on Thursday.
He added that 42 of the group had secured at least 15 nominations before November 30 from the electoral college, which will play the deciding role in the poll.
The body comprises 1,421 members, with many drawn from the Election Committee, which is also responsible for choosing lawmakers and the city’s leader under last year’s Beijing-led electoral overhaul.
The poll in December, which occurs every five years, will feature several new contenders, with candidates including former transport minister Frank Chan Fan, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers chairman Wong Kam-leung and lawmaker Starry Lee, who also chairs the city’s biggest pro-establishment party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, local legislators Stanley Ng Chau-pei, Ma Fung-kwok, Brave Chan Yung and Maggie Chan Man-ki were among those seeking another term as delegates.
