Donald Tsang who has announced for formal running for the Chief Executive (CE) election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) went to the Registration and Electoral Office to submit his nomination form Wednesday.

After submitting the nomination form, Tsang told reporters that he has been supported by 710 members of the Election Committee.

He expressed appreciation of the support of members of various sectors of the Election Committee, which reflects an extensive support from Hong Kong citizens.

On March 12, the central government approved Tung Chee-hwa's request for resignation as the HKSAR Chief Executive for health reasons.

On May 25, Donald Tsang submitted to the State Council, China's cabinet, his resignation as Chief Secretary for Administration and announced he would run for the CE election.

After the State Council approved his resignation request on June 2, Tsang formally started running for the CE election and made public his policy blueprint for Hong Kong.

The nomination period of candidates runs from June 3 to 16. Candidates for the office of CE must be nominated jointly by not less than 100 members of the Election Committee. If there is only one candidate approved to be valid in the end, the Returning Officer will publicly announce the candidate to be elected automatically.

The Annex I of the Basic Law of the HKSAR stipulates that the CE shall be elected by a broadly representative Election Committee in accordance with the law.

The Election Committee shall be composed of 800 members from the following sectors: industrial, commercial and financial sectors as well as the professions, labor, social services, religious sectors.

The committee also includes members of the Legislative Council, representatives of district-based organizations, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and representatives of the Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The Standing Committee of the NPC, China's top legislature, adopted on April 27, 2005 the interpretation on Clause 2, Article 53 of the Basic Law, setting that the term of the office of the next HKSAR Chief Executive shall be the remaining part left by the previous CE. According to the interpretation, It shall be two years for the current case. 

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2005)