The REO said in a statement that it has made all the necessary arrangements to process nominations for candidature in the election as the nomination period is due to start Friday.

Candidates are required to hand in their nomination form to the Returning Officer in the coming two weeks until February 28, the REO said.

"A candidate must enlist the support of at least 100 Election Committee members, who have to personally sign the nomination form," a REO spokesman said.

To qualify for nomination as a candidate, a person must be a Hong Kong permanent resident aged 40 or over on July 1, 2002, a Chinese citizen with no right of abode in any foreign country, and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 20 years before July 1, 2002, the spokesman said.

Pang Kin-kee, who is a judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, is responsible for vetting the validity of nominations.

A form must be submitted in person by a candidate unless Pang allows him to deliver the form in another manner, according to the spokesman.

A poll is scheduled for March 24 if more than one candidate is validly nominated, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2002)