2026 Election Committee Subsector Elections Set for November 22; Nomination Period Opens Tomorrow.

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

The 2026 Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) Ordinary Elections will be held on November 22 (Sunday). The nomination period for the elections will run from tomorrow (October 7) to October 20.

The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice David Lok, today (October 6) visited the Returning Officer's office at the Central Government Offices, Tamar, to inspect the procedures for receiving nomination forms and the preparatory work at the venue.

Mr Justice Lok said, "Preparatory work and all necessary arrangements for the nomination period of the ECSS Ordinary Elections at the Returning Officers' offices are fully ready. The staff members will receive nomination forms in accordance with the procedures to ensure the smooth operation of the nomination period starting tomorrow."

Mr Justice Lok held a briefing on September 22 for the Returning Officers during which he detailed the matters that Returning Officers should pay attention to at each stage of the election. He also highlighted the important roles and responsibilities of the Returning Officers and reminded them to carry out the electoral work in strict compliance with the relevant electoral laws and guidelines to ensure that the ECSS Ordinary Elections will be conducted in an open, honest and fair manner.

A person nominated as a candidate (candidate) of the ECSS Ordinary Elections must be a registered geographical constituency elector aged 18 or above, who is a registered voter for the relevant subsector or has a substantial connection with that subsector. The nomination form must be subscribed by at least five voters registered for the subsector concerned. Each voter may subscribe nominations for a number of candidates not exceeding the number of Election Committee (EC) members to be elected by that subsector. Where a corporate voter acts as subscriber on a nomination form, the nomination may only be made by the corporate voter's authorised representative.

If the number of validly nominated candidates for an EC subsector exceeds the number of EC members to be elected by that subsector, a poll will be held on November 22.

The nomination forms may be obtained at the two offices of the Registration and Electoral Office (8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, and Unit 2301-03, 23/F, Millennium City 6, 392 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon), or at the offices of the Returning Officers of the relevant subsectors. The nomination forms may also be obtained from any District Office during office hours, or downloaded from the election website (www.elections.gov.hk).

Candidates must submit the completed nomination form and an election deposit of $1,000 in person to the relevant Returning Officer during ordinary business hours (from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, except public holidays) within the nomination period. Candidates should lodge the election deposit by the Faster Payment System (FPS) as far as possible, or by cash or cashier order, to avoid any complications arising from a cheque not being honoured.

For enquiries, please call the election hotline at 2891 1001 or visit the election website.

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EAC Chairman visits Returning Officer's office of 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (October 6) and seized about 5.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 45 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. A man was arrested.

A 24-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Manila, the Philippines. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine and 45 duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. He was subsequently arrested.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (October 6) and seized about 5.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 45 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Photo shows the suspected cocaine and duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases