Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam says the Government proposes raising the expense limit for the Chief Executive election in March next year from $9.5 million to $13 million.
He said today the adjustment takes into account the impact on the mode of canvassing as a result of the expanded Election Committee from 800 to 1,200 members as well as the revised voting system for the election.
The proposal also takes into account the 12.8% inflation adjustment since the limit was set back in 2001.
Mr Lam said candidates will need to spend more on manpower and resources to organise more publicity and canvassing activities, both at district level and citywide, to explain their electoral platform effectively.
The Legislative Council passed the Chief Executive Election (Amendment) Ordinance 2011 in early March, which amended the election voting system. A candidate should only be elected if they obtain more than 600 valid votes, instead of half of the total number of valid votes cast.
"Under the revised voting system, it is expected the candidates will have to enhance their canvassing activities to solicit more Election Committee members to vote and support their candidacy," Mr Lam said.
Meanwhile, expense limits for the Election Committee Subsector elections will stay the same, ranging from $100,000 to $480,000, depending on the size of the subsector electorate.
