The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election, Mr Tong Hio Fong, said the body would closely liaise with the Macao health authorities regarding epidemic control advice in relation to electoral arrangements.

The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, this afternoon presided over the oath-taking ceremony at the Government Headquarters, for the Chairman and other members of the Electoral Affairs Commission.

The other members of the Commission are: Mr Lai U Hou; Mr José Maria da Fonseca Tavares; Mr Kou Peng Kuan; Mr Iong Kong Leong; and Ms Chan Lou.

The Commission convened its first meeting – after the oath-taking ceremony – to discuss arrangements for the seventh Legislative Assembly election.

When speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony, Mr Tong said reviewing overall arrangements – particularly election-day work – compared to arrangements for the previous such election in 2017, was a priority for the Commission.

The power to determine the date for voters to cast their ballots was vested in the Chief Executive. The date could only be announced once the Chief Executive had made a decision on the issue, Mr Tong noted.

The Chairman said the Commission would freshly analyse polling station arrangements, in view of the increase in the size of the electorate to approximately 320,000 voters, from approximately 300,000 registered for the 2017 election.

When asked by reporters, Mr Tong said the Commission might accept anyone seeking to run an electoral campaign, as long as they fulfilled requirements outlined in the Legislative Assembly Election Law.

According to that law, any individual wishing to become eligible to run a campaign must provide a signed declaration stating allegiance to the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and to the Macao SAR. 

In addition, Mr Tong issued a reminder that the registration deadline for newly-eligible voters was 31 December. To sign up as voters, newly-eligible residents may use mobile stations set up by the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau or self-service kiosks at various locations.