(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-22 16:53

MACAO - Some 17 representatives from different social sectors of Macao won the candidacies for the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) on Tuesday, as the city prepared for electing 12 deputies to China's new-term top legislature.

The qualification of the 17 candidates was confirmed by the 9-member presidium of the Conference for Electing Deputies of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to the 11th NPC at its second session here Tuesday, presidium spokesman Leong Heng Teng said at a press conference.

Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee Sheng Huaren, attended the presidium session, which was presided by Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah.

A bulletin released by the presidium said the 17 candidates registered with at least 10 nominations from the total 325 members of the electoral conference during the nomination period from January 7 to January 18.

Macao residents of Chinese citizenship aged 18 or above are eligible to contest for the candidacy of the NPC deputies, but they need to obtain at least 10 nominations from the total 325 members of the electoral conference for their registrations to be effective, according to relevant laws.

The election was scheduled to take place on January 27 during the second plenary session of the electoral conference.