Members of the Wong Tai Sin Team of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions support Tam Mei-po and Li Chung-chak to register for their participation in this year's District Council election at the Lung Cheung Center in Wong Tai Sin on Oct 17, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Candidates for this year’s District Council election submitted registration forms on Tuesday at the start of the nomination period, with party leaders expressing support and canvassing votes for the aspiring talents.

Members of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), Hong Kong’s largest political party, signed up in different constituencies for the election.

DAB Chairman Gary Chan Hak-kan said that the candidates had served districts for a long time, and the party would conduct promotional activities in various constituencies.

He said he hopes that the candidates will do their best in the election campaign. Whatever the outcome, their commitment to serving the community remains unchanged, he added.

Vice-chairman of Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) Priscilla Leung Mei-fun also accompanied the party’s candidates to Sham Shui Po District Office to register. She said that the voting rate cannot measure the success of the new electoral system, and there is no necessary relationship between them.

The Federation of Trade Unions held a rally in the morning to canvass for support. President Ng Chau-pei admitted that the election is highly competitive, with various political groups actively participating under the principle of  “patriots administering Hong Kong”

Leung emphasized that what matters most is to let residents know that under the new development, efforts to improve the electoral system have been successful, and the district council plays an important role in local governance.

Leung, who is also the president of Kowloon West New Dynamic, called on voters to fulfill their responsibilities and help shape a new district council that focuses on delivering tangible results and improving people's livelihoods, rather than solely engaging in politics and causing disruptions.

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The Federation of Trade Unions held a rally in the morning to canvass for support. President Ng Chau-pei admitted that the election is highly competitive, with various political groups actively participating under the principle of  “patriots administering Hong Kong”.

Ng emphasized that the party will use the utmost sincerity and their past achievements to impress every voter, and said he hopes for a healthy competition.

Also on Tuesday, the government released a promotional video, in which Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and several leading government officials called on more aspiring talents to join the race and encouraged local residents to cast their votes.

Secretary for Home and Youth affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said that restructuring the District Council can improve local governance, enhance residents’ well-being, and enable the government to better understand public sentiment.

She emphasized that the assessment of the new system should not solely rely on voter turnout, as it can be influenced by various factors such as weather and social atmosphere. What really matters is that with the election, sincere and aspiring patriots can get the chance to engage in district administration.

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Slated for Dec 10, the election will be the first district-level election after the city reorganized its electoral system in 2021. The nomination period of the election lasts from Oct 17 to 30. The new term District Council will comprise 470 members and they will assume office on Jan 1.