Hong Kong election committee nominations close; 31 of 36 sectors oversubscribed
Nominations for Hong Kong's Election Committee subsector elections ended on 20 October, with 31 of 36 elected subsectors oversubscribed. A total of 1,115 candidate nominations and 40 group nominations were received.
Nominations for the 2026 Election Committee subsector ordinary elections closed on Tuesday (20 October). As of the last working day, returning officers in the relevant subsectors had received 1,115 candidate nomination forms and 40 designated group nomination forms, according to official figures.
Of the 36 subsectors that elect committee members, 31 are oversubscribed, while the remaining five have exactly the same number of candidates as seats. In the first sector, all 18 subsectors are oversubscribed. In the second sector, eight of ten subsectors are oversubscribed, with the most competitive being the social welfare subsector, where 25 candidates are vying for 15 seats, and the medical and health services subsector, where 23 candidates are contesting 15 seats.
In the third sector, both the fisheries and grassroots organisations subsectors are oversubscribed. The fisheries subsector has 72 candidates for 60 seats, while the grassroots organisations subsector has 75 candidates for 60 seats.
In the fourth sector, the subsector representing members of the Hong Kong and Kowloon district committees, fighting crime committees, and fire safety committees has 88 candidates for 76 seats, while the equivalent New Territories subsector has 93 candidates for 80 seats.
Five subsectors have an equal number of candidates and seats: the education subsector; the sports, performing arts, culture and publishing subsector; the fellow townsmen associations subsector; the labour subsector; and the subsector representing Hong Kong members of national bodies. If all candidates are confirmed as qualified and no one withdraws, these subsectors will not require a vote and candidates will be declared elected automatically.
The Election Committee election is scheduled for 22 November, when a new 1,500-member Election Committee will be chosen. Each of the five sectors holds 300 seats, with 982 seats elected by subsectors, 156 seats nominated by designated groups, and 362 ex-officio seats.