Up to 123 candidates from various civil groups in Macao to participate in the 4th Legislative Assembly Election of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) will vie for 12 directly-elected seats in the Assembly, the Macao Post Daily reported on Tuesday.

A total of 16 groups completed their registration procedures over the past six weeks for joining the SAR's direct legislative election which was scheduled to take place on September 20, according to the daily.

The SAR's legislature has 29 seats, 12 of which are directly elected and 10 indirectly elected while the rest will be appointed by the SAR's chief executive.

Registered candidacy commissions could submit their political manifestoes and lists of candidates to the authorities before Monday. In accordance with the law, the commissions need to acquire a minimum of 300 endorsements from registered voters to be accepted as a legitimate competitor in the upcoming election.

The officially verified lists of the candidates will be announced on July 28 at the earliest.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2009)