Donald Tsang has been elected uncontested in the 2005 Chief Executive Election after the two-week nomination exercise closed today.

Returning Officer Justice Carlye Chu said six nomination forms had been received and only Mr Tsang's had been ruled valid. She said he fully satisfied the statutory qualifications for candidature after verifying all the information on the nomination form.

Mr Tsang's nomination was made by 674 members of the Election Committee. As there was only one validly-nominated candidate at the close of nominations, Ms Chu declared Mr Tsang was elected uncontested under the Chief Executive Election Ordinance.

Polls close: Returning Officer Justice Carlye Chu announces Donald Tsang's election; Justice Woo Kwok-hing says the election is fair, open and honest; while Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang says principal officials and the civil service will prepare for the chief executive to take office.

Fair election

Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Justice Woo Kwok-hing said all electoral arrangements and procedures complied with the Basic Law, the Chief Executive Election Ordinance and other statutory provisions.

He said the election was conducted in a fair, open and honest manner, adding the result is lawful and valid. It will be gazetted as soon as possible.

State Council report

Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang said he will submit a report to the State Council stating the election has been completed in accordance with the law. The Central Government can then deal with the chief executive's appointment according to the Basic Law.

He was pleased to see the chief executive had been returned smoothly, on schedule, in an open and fair manner.

All principal officials and members of the civil service will continue to do their best to prepare for the chief executive to take office.

Election delcaration

Justice Woo reminded all candidates who had publicly declared their intention to stand for the election, whether or not they had submitted a nomination form, to submit a return and declaration of election expenses and donations to the Registration & Electoral Office within 30 days of the election result being gazetted.

Since the nominations opened on June 3, the commission and Returning Officer received five complaints. Of them, two are about media reporting, another two about election-related comments made by principal officials and one about the way a candidate sought nominations.

Justice Woo said all complaints will be dealt with in a fair and impartial manner.