03/09/2026
CHANCERY NOTICE
NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR CATHOLICS TO JOIN THE ELECTION COMMITTEE UNDER THE HONG KONG SAR
In accordance with the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021, the Election Committee (EC) is composed of 1,500 members and has three functions: (1) to nominate and elect the Chief Executive; (2) to elect 40 Legislative Council (LegCo) members; (3) to nominate all LegCo election candidates. The term of office of the EC is five years and the coming term will commence on 1 February 2027.
All EC candidates have to take an oath in compliance with the legal requirement and conditions. They are also subject to an eligibility review.
Six designated local religious bodies, as a Subsector, belong to the Third Sector of the EC and are allocated 60 seats, of which 10 seats are filled by members of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.
Our Diocese has just been informed that the full name list of the Catholic applicants has to be submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office during the period from 7th to 20th October 2026 (both days inclusive). Accordingly, Catholics who wish to join the EC are to submit their written applications either by hand or by registered mail to the Chancery Office, 16, Caine Road, 12/F, Hong Kong [indicating on the envelope: Election Committee Religious Subsector]. All applications must reach the Chancery Office by September 19 (Saturday) noon time (12:00) at the latest.
A. New Requirements for Catholic Applicants
1. Catholic applicants must :
· comply with the regulations of the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance;
· have no political affiliation, both currently and for the next five years if elected.
2. In the application letter, an applicant has to provide his/her name, address, parish, telephone/fax numbers and e-mail address for contact purposes, together with the following documents:
· a copy of his/her Identity Card;
· a copy of his/her baptism certificate;
· a recommendation letter from a priest, or a man or woman religious who has known him / her for at least three years, in support of his / her good standing as an active Church member or practising Catholic.
· Evidence in support of a relatively close relationship with the Catholic Church (such as a document indicating membership of a lay association, or participation in a formation programme, or a service rendered to a parish or to the diocese, etc.)
B. New Procedures for selecting Catholic Nominees for the Electoral Committee
1. To ensure, as far as possible, that the applicants will be competent to assume the responsibilities of an EC member in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, the spirit of the Gospel and the common good, their personal information will be reviewed by a diocesan assessment committee with the following members: members of the Diocesan Curia, the Chairpersons of the Association of Major Superiors of Men / Women Religious in Hong Kong or their representatives, and the President or a representative of the Hong Kong Central Council of Catholic Laity.
2. The assessment criteria are as follows:
· whether the applicant is a practising Catholic;
· participation in parochial or diocesan services;
· attendance of faith formation programmes or other programmes organized by the parish or the Diocese;
· participation in the evangelizing mission of the Church;
· care for society and the common good.
The Diocesan assessment committee may interview an applicant if deemed necessary.
3. Every member of the diocesan assessment committee will give a rating (1 – 10) of the performance of each applicant in each area listed under item 2. The 10 applicants with the highest rating will be chosen as Catholic nominees for the coming term of the Electoral Committee.
4. The Diocesan Assessment Committee, adopting the same procedures as mentioned under item 2, will select 3 applicants as “excess nominees”.
5. The Chancery Office will arrange for the aforementioned nominees and excess nominees to fill in the relevant forms provided by the Registration and Electoral Office, and will then submit the completed forms to that Office.
6. In case one of the aforementioned nominees is considered ineligible by the “Candidate Eligibility Review Committee” under the Hong Kong SAR, the “excess nominee” with the highest rating will replace that nominee.
7. Once the eligibility of the 10 Catholic nominees has been confirmed by the SAR “Review Committee”, their names, together with the names of the excess nominees, will be announced by the Diocese.
Notes:
(1) The personal data and other related information and documentary proofs (if applicable) provided by all applicants will be used by the Chancery Office, the Registration and Electoral Office and other authorized departments/organizations/persons for the purposes of voter registration and election, and for other related purposes.
(2) The Diocese will assist the Catholic EC members in the light of the social teaching of the Church.
(3) In accordance with Canon Law, it is not appropriate for clerics and religious to apply for joining the Election Committee.
For enquiries, please contact the Chancery Office at 2523 2487 or 2843 4669.
Given at the Chancery Office,
31 August 2026.
