China News Agency, Hong Kong, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The election of the sixth chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be held on the 8th.

This election is the third important election event after the improvement of the Hong Kong SAR's electoral system, and also the first chief executive election after the improvement of the Hong Kong SAR's electoral system.

  On March 11, 2021, the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National People's Congress passed the "Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Election System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".

On March 30, the 27th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress passed the new Basic Law Annex I "Methods for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" and Annex II "Methods for the Selection of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Voting Procedures" , effective March 31.

On May 27, the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passed the "2021 Improvement of the Electoral System (Comprehensive Amendment) Ordinance" in the third reading, marking the successful completion of the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system.

  In September and December 2021, the first and second important elections under the new electoral system, namely the election of the Hong Kong SAR Election Commission and the election of the seventh-term Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR, will be successfully completed.

According to the new electoral system, the Election Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region consists of five sectors, and the number of members has increased from 1,200 to 1,500. It is responsible for nominating and electing candidates for the Chief Executive.

  The nomination period for the election of the sixth chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is from April 3 to April 16.

During the nomination period, the Returning Officer received a total of one nomination form, and the candidate was Li Jiachao.

Li Jiachao, the former Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, officially registered for the election of the sixth Chief Executive on April 13.

  On April 18, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Candidate Qualifications Review Committee announced in the Gazette that it had completed the review of Li Jiachao's qualifications as a candidate for the Chief Executive, and ruled that his nomination was valid. The number of valid election committee nominations obtained by Li Jiachao was 786.

  On May 8, the Registration and Electoral Office set up a main polling station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for members of the Election Committee to vote for the Chief Executive election. The polling hours were from 9:00 am to 11:30 am.

Candidates must obtain more than 750 valid votes to be elected.

  The Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulates that the Chief Executive shall be elected in accordance with this Law by an Election Committee that is broadly representative, conforms to the actual situation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and reflects the overall interests of society, and is appointed by the Central People's Government.

  The term of office of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is five years and may be re-elected once.

The first five chief executives were Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang, Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam.

  The term of office of the sixth Chief Executive of the HKSAR is from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2027.

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