Why do Hong Kong’s Election Committee polls matter as nominations open?

The nomination period opened on Wednesday for elections to the 1,500-member body responsible for choosing Hong Kong’s next chief executive and 40 lawmakers.

Hopefuls from at least four subsectors submitted their nomination forms on the first day.

The South China Morning Post explains the significance of the Election Committee polls, who signed up on the first day and what to watch for.

What is the Election Committee and why is it important?

Wednesday marked the start of a two-week nomination period for the 2026 Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) Ordinary Elections, scheduled for November 22.

Up to 982 subsector representatives will be elected to the city’s top electoral college. They will join 362 ex officio members and 156 members nominated by designated bodies. Together, the 1,500 members will be responsible for nominating and selecting the chief executive next March and electing 40 of the Legislative Council’s 90 members in 2029.