Nominations for Hong Kong’s Election Committee to run from October 7 to 20

Nominations for Hong Kong's influential Election Committee are set to commence on October 7 and conclude on October 20, with the chief electoral officer slated to release guidelines on when forms must be submitted. This process precedes the general election for the committee, which will take place in November. The Election Committee, comprising a total of 1,500 members, plays a crucial role in selecting Hong Kong's chief executive and some legislators for a five-year term commencing in February 2027.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has officially designated November 22 as the date for the Election Committee's subsector ordinary elections, following Beijing's electoral reforms aimed at ensuring only loyalists govern the city. The government has vowed to collaborate closely with the Electoral Affairs Commission to ensure the elections are conducted transparently, securely, and efficiently.

The Election Committee's expanded powers, resulting from the electoral overhaul, allow it to appoint and vote for Legislative Council members. Prospective lawmakers must secure at least 10 votes, including at least two from each of the Committee's five sectors, to stand for election. The Committee also reserves the right to elect 40 representatives of its own choosing to the enlarged 90-seat Legislative Council.