Hong Kong begins 1st polls after improvements to electoral system

The voting hours at five ordinary polling stations and one dedicated polling station across Hong Kong began at 9 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Sunday morning that the elections will bring new development to the city.

The elections will lay a sound foundation for the upcoming elections for the Legislative Council (LegCo) and the Chief Executive, she said.

 On March 11 this year, a decision on improving the electoral system was adopted by an overwhelming majority vote at the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

According to the decision, the Election Committee, expanded to 1,500 members of five sectors, is responsible for electing the Chief Executive designate and part of the LegCo members, as well as for nominating candidates for the Chief Executive and LegCo members.

Out of the 1,500 seats of the Election Committee, 325 people were determined to be validly registered as ex-officio members; 156 persons were validly nominated to be members of the Election Committee; and 603 candidates would be uncontested, while 412 candidates would contest for 364 seats. 

The actual number of members of the Election Committee will be fewer than 1,500 due to the LegCo election yet to be held and the overlapping status of some ex-officio members.