Chairman of Hong Kong's Election Affairs Commission, Justice David Lok (second right), flanked by Returning Officer of the Central and Western District, David Leung (first right), visits the Returning Officer's office at the Central and Western District Office to inspect the preparatory work to receive nomination forms for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election, Oct 16, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – The nomination period for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election in Hong Kong begins on Tuesday and will run until Oct 30. 

Nomination forms are available at the District Offices and the offices of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO). They can also be downloaded from the REO website and the election website.

Nominees must submit completed nomination forms and the election deposit of HK$3,000 in person to the Returning Officer for the constituency concerned between 9 am and 5 pm from Mondays to Fridays and between 9 am and noon on Saturdays within the nomination period.

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The seventh District Council Ordinary Election – the city’s first district council election in the wake of an array of reforms to its district-level governance in the aftermath of the social unrest of 2019 – is scheduled to be held on Dec 10.

Prospective candidates must have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for three years immediately preceding the nomination and must be subscribed by designated electors

Arrangements at the offices of the Returning Officers at 18 districts are all ready and that staff will ensure the smooth operation of the work in receiving nomination forms, Election Affairs Commission Chairman David Lok said on Monday after inspecting the procedures for receiving nomination forms for the election. 

He visited the Returning Officer's office at the Central and Western District Office to inspect the nomination procedures and related preparatory work there.

In a briefing held earlier for the Returning Officers, Lok highlighted their important roles and responsibilities and reminded them to carry out the electoral work in strict compliance with the relevant electoral laws and guidelines to ensure that the polls will be conducted in an open, fair and honest manner.

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As per the electoral rules, a nominee for the District Council geographical constituency election and the District Committees constituency election must be a registered geographical constituency elector aged 21 or above.

Chairman of the Election Affairs Commission, Justice David Lok, holds a briefing on Oct 3, 2023 for the Returning Officers of the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

They must also have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for three years immediately preceding the date of the nomination. Each prospective candidate must also be subscribed by designated electors.

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The nominees have been advised to submit their nominations as early as possible to allow time to correct possible mistakes in the nomination forms before the nomination period ends.