This document compares the nomination process for the Chief Executive election in Hong Kong in 2012 and 2017. The 2012 process involved nomination by 1/8 of the Nomination Committee members, no screening stage, and election by the Election Committee. The 2017 process added a screening stage involving Legco members to narrow the candidates to 2-3, and requires over 50% Nomination Committee approval of the final list. It aims to find a process that offers choice, is acceptable to Beijing and Hong Kong, and meets international standards.

1. Does this nomination procedure offer a genuine choice?
Will it be acceptable to both Beijing and to Hong Kong?
Does it meet "International Standard"?
1) Entry: 1/8 of Nomination Committee (i.e. 150 NC members) to nominate by open
ballot (same as before);
2) Screening: Legco members amongst NC to mediate; OR if there’s no agreement
amongst the Legco members, potential candidates will need 20 votes from Legco
Members (each Legco member has one vote by open ballot) to get past the
“Screening Stage”;
3) Exit: More than 50% of NC members (each has one vote by secret ballot) to approve
or reject the entire list (i.e. not one-by-one approval).
Steps 2012 CE Election 2017 CE Election
1) Entry 1/8 (12.5% or 150 endorsement)
of a Nomination Committee of
1,200 (by open ballot)
1/8 (12.5% or 150) of a Nomination
Committee of 1,200 by open ballot
2) Screening to
get down
"2 to 3
Candidates"
Not necessary By mediation amongst the 70 Legco
Member to screen down to 2 or 3
candidates; if mediation is unsuccessful,
only those who have 20 Legco votes get
through (each Legco member get only one
vote -- by open ballot). "Screening" by
Legco members ensures that the winning
CE has at least 20 supporters (or similar
voting groups or political parties) in Legco
-- even if current rule requires the
"Winning candidate to declare he is not a
member of political party" (Cap 569
Section 31 of CE Election Ordinance)
3) Exit Not Necessary More than 50% of Nomination Committee
endorsement of the entire list (by secret
ballot). If less than 50% endorse the entire
list, the process starts from "Step 1" all
over again.
4) Election By an Election Committee of
1,200 which is the composed of
the same people as the
Nomination Committee (by secret
ballot)
Election by universal suffrage of all
registered voters in Hong Kong (by secret
ballot)
5) Number of
Candidates
Can have only one candidate Must have at least 2 but not more than 3
candidates