Page:Chief Executive Election Ordinance (Cap. 569).pdf/61

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELECTION ORDINANCE 21. Withdrawal of candidature

(1) A candidate for a subsector election may withdraw the candidate’s candidature at any time before the close of nominations.

(2) The withdrawal of such a candidate’s candidature has effect only if it is in writing signed by the candidate and complies with the EAC Regulations.

22. Who are validly nominated candidates for subsector election

(1) The Returning Officer for a subsector shall, as soon as practicable after receiving a nomination form that complies with the EAC Regulations, decide in accordance with those Regulations whether or not a person is validly nominated as a candidate at the subsector election.

(2) The Returning Officer for a subsector shall, in accordance with the EAC Regulations, publish a notice stating which persons are validly nominated as candidates at the subsector election.

23. Death or disqualification of a validly nominated candidate before date of subsector election

(1) If, after the Returning Officer has made a decision under section 22(1) that a candidate is validly nominated for a subsector election, but before the date of the subsector election, proof is given to the satisfaction of the Returning Officer that the candidate has died, that Officer shall, in accordance with the EAC Regulations, give notice of the death.

(2) If a notice under section 22(2) has been published, the Returning Officer shall also, in accordance with the EAC Regulations—
 * (a) publicly declare that the candidate under subsection (1) has died; and
 * (b) further declare which candidates are validly nominated for the subsector election.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the Returning Officer has publicly declared under section 25(1) that the candidate was duly elected as a member of the Election Committee.

(4) If, after the Returning Officer has made a decision under section 22(1) that a candidate is validly nominated for a subsector election, but before the date of the subsector election, proof is given to the satisfaction of the Returning Officer that the candidate is disqualified from being nominated as a candidate for a subsector election, the Returning Officer shall, in accordance with the EAC Regulations, vary the decision to the effect that the candidate is not validly nominated. If the Returning Officer so varies the decision, that Officer shall, in accordance with those Regulations, give notice of the variation of the decision.

(5) If a notice under section 22(2) has been published, the Returning Officer shall also, in accordance with the EAC Regulations—
 * (a) publicly declare that the decision has been varied; and
 * (b) further declare which candidates are validly nominated for the subsector election.

(6) Subsections (4) and (5) do not apply if the Returning Officer has publicly declared under section 25(1) that the candidate was duly elected as a member of the Election Committee.

24. When holding of a subsector election can be postponed or adjourned

(1) The Electoral Affairs Commission may by order direct the postponement of a subsector election if, before that election is held, the Commission is of the opinion that the election is likely to be obstructed, disrupted, undermined or seriously affected by riot or open violence or any other occurrence of public danger.

(2) The Electoral Affairs Commission may by order direct the adjournment of the polling or counting of votes for a subsector election if, during the polling or counting of votes in respect of that election, the Commission is of the opinion that the polling or counting is likely to be or is being obstructed, disrupted, undermined or seriously affected by riot or open violence or any other occurrence of public danger.