The fourth term Legislative Council election will be held September 7 with the nomination period running from July 19 to August 1, the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau announces.

To ensure all candidates compete on a level playing field the Chief Executive has appointed July 19 the start date of the nomination period, and the date from which the third term LegCo will be suspended.

The dates will be gazetted February 22.

Election expense limits

The bureau has also proposed two options regarding the election expense limits for the 2008 LegCo geographical constituency elections - to adopt the same election expense limits in the 2004 LegCo Election, or to adjust the limits according to population change in each geographical constituency.

With the latter option election expense limits of the New Territories West Geographical Constituency will rise 20% to $3 million while that of the New Territories East will grow 15% to $2.875 million. The limits of the other three geographical constituencies will remain the same as in 2004.

For the functional constituency elections the bureau proposes the four-tier election expense limits used in the 2004 LegCo Election should continue to apply.

Central counting station

The Registration & Electoral Office said only two venues can be secured during the election period for a central counting station. They are AsiaWorld-Expo at Chek Lap Kok and the International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay.

The office said the distant location of AsiaWorld-Expo may pose difficult challenges to the station's operation and the access of candidates, agents and the public, after public transportation ceases operation after midnight. This will be particularly difficult if there is inclement weather.

Although the International Trade & Exhibition Centre's physical layout may pose some challenges in terms of operation and control, the office can form a detailed plan in advance to minimise the limitations.