A total of 256 candidates to run for seats in Macao's Chief Executive Election Committee were confirmed Tuesday by the Macao Special Administration Region Electoral Affairs Committee following verification of the applications.

Jose Chu, director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau and the chair of the Electoral Affairs Committee, endorsed the final list of the candidates. No appeals were lodged against any candidate following the publishing of the list on May 18.

According to the Chief Executive Election Law, which was passed by the Macao Legislative Council in April, the 300 members of the Election Committee represent four mainstream sectors of Macao society. Applications are submitted within sectors.

The industrial, commercial and financial sector is the largest, with 100 members. The second, 80-member sector includes the cultural sub-sector (18 members), education (20), professionals (30; 32 applications confirmed) and sports (12). The third sector, also with 80 members, consists of the labor sub-sector (40) and social services (34). The third sector also includes six specially selected representatives of Macao's four main religions, Catholicism (2), Buddhism (2), Protestantism (1), and Taoism (1).

The fourth sector comprises Macao's 12 deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), 16 representatives of the legislature, and 12 representatives of Macao’s members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Chu said that the period for organizations to submit their lists ended on Tuesday. For the sector with a more candidates than seats, an election will be held, preparations for which are beginning immediately.

The Macao SAR government has set June 27 as the date for the election of the Election Committee for Macao’s next chief executive. Candidates of the committee are allowed to campaign between June 12 and 25.

There are about 2,000 legal associations and organizations in Macao, 500 of which are elective societies. They are highly representative of the SAR’s 451,000 people.

Under the Election Law, which is closely based on the Macao Basic Law, the election of the chief executive by the Election Committee must be held at least 60 days before the incumbent’s term expires. Edmund Ho Hau Wah’s first five-year term will expire on December 19 this year.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2004)