A growing number of former senior government officials have entered the race for seats on Hong Kong’s Election Committee, a development that observers view as enhancing the committee’s prestige and legitimacy as the gatekeeper selecting the city’s future leader.
As the two‑week nomination period concludes on Tuesday, the Registration and Electoral Office has processed 1,115 nominations for the 982 elective seats as of Friday.
The poll will be held on 22 November, when the chosen candidates will join 362 ex‑official positions and 156 seats allocated by designated bodies to select Hong Kong’s chief executive in March of next year.
A notable feature of this year’s nominations reflects a strong turnout from former senior officials re‑entering public life.
Former Justice Minister Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung heads the legal sector contignment, while former Health Minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee and former Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee Ha-yun—currently leading the Hospital Authority—as candidates in the medical and health services track.