The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee announced today that among the 154 nominations for the 2021 Legislative Council General Election received by returning officers, 153 are determined valid.

Meanwhile, Medical & Health Services functional constituency candidate Lau Tsz-chun’s nomination is invalid.

Elaborating on the determination this morning, Chief Secretary and committee chairperson John Lee said that since Mr Lau holds office and is employed in a government department or bureau, he is a prescribed public officer as defined under the Legislative Council Ordinance and hence is not qualified as a candidate.

For those who are confirmed eligible for the upcoming LegCo election, 35 nominations are from the geographical constituencies, 67 are from the functional constituencies, and 51 are from the Election Committee constituency, Mr Lee added.

The returning officers concerned have informed all candidates of the committee’s decision, and the candidate concerned the reason why his nomination is considered invalid. A notice detailing the names, addresses and candidate numbers of the 153 confirmed nominees will be published in the Gazette.

In response to reporters’ questions, the Chief Secretary pointed out that the improved electoral system will produce candidates who will be broadly representative of society and there will be balanced participation. He added the chaos and unlawfulness that previously erupted in LegCo could also be avoided.

“This election, after improvement, will ensure all these unlawful activities, all these matters that may contravene and be harmful to national interests will not happen.

“This improved electoral system will ensure that those who are elected eventually will be for the benefit of society as a whole, will be for the benefit of ‘one country, two systems’, will be able to solve problems and make Hong Kong a better place.”

In accordance with Annex II to the Basic Law, the committee is responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates for LegCo membership. It will decide whether the person concerned can meet the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.