Donald Tsang yesterday submitted his nomination for the Chief Executive election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the Registration and Electoral Office.

　　After submitting the nomination form, Tsang told reporters that he has the support of 710 members of the Election Committee from various sectors, reflecting extensive support among Hong Kong citizens.

　　On March 12, the central government approved Tung Chee-hwa's request to resign as the HKSAR Chief Executive.

　　On May 25, Tsang submitted his resignation as Chief Secretary for Administration to the State Council, China's Cabinet, and announced he would run for the CE election. After the State Council approved his resignation request on June 2, Tsang formally entered the fray.

　　The nomination period, which began on June 3, ends today. Candidates for the office of CE must be nominated jointly by not less than 100 members of the Election Committee. If there is only one valid candidate at the end, the Returning Officer will publicly announce the candidate as elected.

　　The Annex I of the Basic Law of the HKSAR stipulates that the CE shall be elected by a broadly representative Election Committee in accordance with the law.

　　The Election Committee shall be composed of 800 members from the following sectors: industrial, commercial and financial sectors as well as the profession, labor, social services, and religious sectors.

　　The committee also includes members of the Legislative Council, representatives of district-based organizations, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress and representatives of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

　　The Standing Committee of the NPC, China's top legislature, on April 27 adopted the interpretation on Clause 2, Article 53 of the Basic Law, stating that the term of the office of the next HKSAR chief executive shall be the remaining part left by the previous CE. According to the interpretation, it shall be two years in the current case.

　　(Xinhua)