Hong Kong Government Confirms 161 Valid Candidates for 2025 LegCo Election

A total of 161 candidates have been confirmed as validly nominated for the 2025 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki announced on Tuesday.

Addressing concerns over several candidates promoting their assigned numbers ahead of the completion of eligibility reviews, Chan clarified that there is no prescribed sequence between the drawing of lots and the finalization of eligibility checks. "In the previous election cycle, the lots were drawn first, followed by the announcement of review results," he noted, adding that this year's early allocation of numbers was designed to expedite candidates' preparations. This includes drafting campaign materials in advance to optimize time constraints during the intense election period.

However, Chan emphasized that all candidates had been explicitly advised against publicizing their numbers until the official review outcomes are released, underscoring the importance of adhering to procedural guidelines to maintain electoral integrity.

In a related development, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai revealed that the government will organize 39 election forums commencing today (November 11). These events aim to foster informed voter engagement across the city's diverse constituencies.

The forums will span the Election Committee subsector, 10 geographical constituencies, and 28 functional constituencies. Each session will feature structured segments, including candidate self-introductions, mobilization efforts by campaign teams, interactive question-and-answer periods, and in-depth discussions on constituency-specific policy issues.

The announcements come as Hong Kong gears up for the LegCo election, a pivotal event in the city's governance framework under the improved electoral system. Further details on forum schedules and participation guidelines will be available through official government channels.