Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks during a press conference before an Executive Council meeting on Sep 21, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Monday called on patriots with abilities and a vision to run in the upcoming Legislative Council election, saying the city needs their strengths to achieve long-term development.

Lam made the remarks five days before the start of the nomination period for the Legislative Council election. The nomination period will run through Nov 12, and the election for the 90-member council will be held on Dec 19.

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Addressing the opening ceremony of a local forum, Lam said Hong Kong is entering a new era of development with support from the central government, and this requires the city’s professionals to envision and set long-term developing strategies in areas like city planning, land supply and inno-tech development.

The reformed legislature will still have diversified voices and political views, so that people from different sectors or backgrounds can express their visions and advice for the city

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive, HKSAR 

Patriots with abilities and the passion to make the city better should run in the coming election of the Legislative Council and contribute their strengths to Hong Kong’s future development, she said.

Under the revamped electoral system, the Legislative Council will expand from 70 members to 90. Among them, 40 lawmakers will be chosen by the newly elected 1,500-strong Election Committee. Another 30 will be elected by voters from functional constituencies, and the remaining 20 seats will be filled by direct election, with two seats from each of the 10 geographical constituencies.

Lam said that the reformed legislature will still have diversified voices and political views so that people from different sectors or backgrounds can express their visions and advice for the city.

Also on Monday, the Electoral Affairs Commission announced that the Legislative Council election’s voting time will be shortened by an hour, with voting now slated to begin at 8:30 am and close at 10:30 pm. 

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The commission said the time adjustment will give polling-station employees more time to check with the new electronic Register of Voters system and other new measures that will be used for the first time in the election.

Chairman of Hong Kong’s Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Barnabas Fung Wah (second left) addresses a press conference on the guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the Legislative Council Election, Oct 25, 2021. Also present are EAC members Arthur Luk, SC (first left), Prof Daniel Shek (second right) and Chief Electoral Officer of the Registration and Electoral Office Alan Yung (first right). (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The commission said 620 general polling stations will be open in the 10 geographic constituencies, and a polling station for voters from the Election Committee will be at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Each member of the Election Committee will need to select 40 candidates, or the ballot will be deemed invalid. The 40 candidates who obtain the greatest number of votes will be returned in the election.

Election Committee members who are also eligible voters of a geographical or functional constituency can vote for different sectors’ candidates at the Convention Centre polling station.