By-election Committee sworn in

The Electoral Affairs Committee for the by-election of the Legislative Assembly (AL) was inaugurated at a swearing-in ceremony held at the Government Headquarters.

Chief Executive Chui Sai On and O Lam, head of Chui’s office, administered the oaths.

Representatives from the administrative, legislative and judicial branches were present to witness the swearing-in, including Chief Prosecutor Ip Son Sang; lawmakers Vong Hin Fai, Wu Chou Kit, Chan Hong and Chan Chak Mo; and Secretaries Wong Sio Chak, Alexis Tam and Raimundo do Rosário.

The Electoral Affairs Committee consists of Judge Tong Hio Fong of the Court of Second Instance, Prosecutor Lai U Hou, President of the Municipal Affairs Bureau José Maria da Fonseca Tavares, Director Kou Peng Kuan of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Director Iong Kong Leong of the Financial Services Bureau and Victor Chan Chi Ping of the Government Information Bureau.

Tong, Kou and Chan are also members of the Chief Executive Election Electoral Affairs Committee.

After the swearing-in ceremony, committee president Tong spoke to the press. He explained that the budget for candidates amounts to 0.004% of the average annual government budget over the last 10 years. “This is the largest amount each candidate can spend on their campaign, but it doesn’t mean they need to use up that amount,” Tong emphasized.

The budget for each candidate’s election campaign is set at about MOP3.55 million.

Tong noted that the committee’s work, especially the work of himself, Kou and Chan, will progress alongside the CE Election Electoral Affairs Committee’s work, even though the by-election is a sudden occurrence.

Tong explained that each association eligible for the indirect election should legally nominate 22 members to represent their association. These 22 members will vote in the election.

The committee was made necessary when the previous indirectly-elected lawmaker Ho Iat Seng resigned from his position to prepare his election campaign for Chief Executive.

Ho’s resignation means a by-election must be held. The date for the by-election has been set as Nov. 24, Staff reporter