Nominations open for powerful Election Committee that selects Hong Kong leader and lawmakers

Nominations have now opened for the influential Election Committee, tasked with selecting Hong Kong's chief executive and 40 out of 90 Legislative Council seats. The ballot for 982 positions on the 1,500-member committee launched on September 7 and will close on October 20. If the approved nominees surpass 982, a ballot will be held on November 22, as per the government's Electoral Affairs Commission.

The elected members will join appointed and ex officio members to form the committee, which comprises five sectors and 40 subsectors. One sector focuses on industrial, commerce, and finance representatives, while sectors for lawmakers, district organizations, and those linked to Beijing bodies – including National People’s Congress deputies and National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference members – collectively hold 40% of the seats.

The Election Committee's role includes electing the chief executive, who must then receive central government approval, and 40 of the 90 Legislative Council seats. The committee also nominates candidates for these positions. Its five-year term starts on February 1, 2026, and ends on January 31, 2032.

To be eligible, candidates must be registered voters within their geographical constituency or have a strong connection to their subsector. The committee abolished the Election Committee Constituency in 2004 and reintroduced it in 2021 after a direct election overhaul. In March 2021, Beijing implemented legislation to ensure "patriots" govern Hong Kong, reducing democratic representation, tightening election control, and introducing a pro-Beijing vetting panel for candidate selection.

Authorities claim the changes ensure the city's stability and prosperity, yet critics argue they have instead sparked international condemnation, as much of the traditional opposition remains detained, in exile, or has retired from politics.

Nomination forms are available for download from the Registration and Electoral Office website or can be collected from District Offices, Registration and Electoral Office locations, and Returning Officers' offices. Authorities recently disclosed the election will cost around HK$260 million, covering HK$135 million in staff costs, HK$9 million in publicity, and HK$116 million in other expenses such as venue rentals, printing, transportation, and postage.