Voters line up outside a polling station in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, on Nov 24, 2019. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong will hold its seventh District Council Ordinary Election on Dec 10 after reforms were implemented to further improve district governance, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman said Monday. 

The elections for the District Committees constituency and the District Council geographical constituency will both be held on Dec 10, the spokesman said in a statement.

The seventh-term District Councils will strictly adhere to “the positioning under the Basic Law” to carry out advisory and services functions

The date, chosen by the Chief Executive, was published in the Gazette on Monday while the nomination period for the polls will run from Oct 17 to Oct 30, he added. 

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"The government will endeavor to ensure that the seventh term District Councils will assume office on January 1, 2024 as scheduled...and ensure that the election will be open, fair, honest, and be safely and orderly conducted,” the spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement. 

“The government also encourages individuals with talents and aspirations who are patriotic and have an affection for Hong Kong to serve the community by actively participating in the election,” he said, appealing to voters to exercise their civil rights by voting in the elections.

The Legislative Council earlier passed the District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, enabling the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" to also be fully implemented at the district governance level. 

The seventh-term District Councils will strictly adhere to “the positioning under the Basic Law” to carry out advisory and services functions, duly contribute to district governance, and effectively respond to the expectations of the public, the spokesman said.

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He pointed out that apart from reforming the District Councils, the government has further improved the city’s district governance system. 

The Steering Committee and Task Force on District Governance, which are led by the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration respectively, were established to effectively implement policies and measures at the district level. 

The committee and task force have set clear work objectives and policy measures to continuously enhance district governance and provide timely and caring services to the public, the spokesman said.