1998 Hong Kong Regional Council (constituency) by-election

none 1998 Regional Council by-election Hong Kong presidential Popular no 1998 Hong Kong legislative election 1998 1998 10 29 yes 2000 Hong Kong legislative election 2000 50 100% 100px Tang Siu-tong Hong Kong Progressive Alliance Pro-Beijing 28 56% Chiang Lai-wan 2012.jpg Ann Chiang Nonpartisan candidate Pro-Beijing 22 44% Parties with most votes by each district Member Tang Siu-tong Hong Kong Progressive Alliance Tang Siu-tong Hong Kong Progressive Alliance The 1998 Regional Council by-election was held on 29 October 1998 after the court ruled the incumbent Legislative Councillor Tang Siu-tong was unduly elected in the Regional Council constituency due to invalid ballots.Regional Council FC electors to receive poll cards https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199810/16/1016150.htm 2022-12-10 www.info.gov.hk Tang eventually recaptured his seat with a larger margin in this by-election. Background Preferential elimination system of voting was in place for the election of the Regional Council constituency. As stipulated in relevant regulation, electors must mark the first preference by entering "1" (Arabic numeral) against the name of a candidate on the ballot paper and indicate the other preferences in the descending order beginning with "2". A general election of the Legislative Council was held in May 1998. In the Regional Council constituency, Tang Siu-tong defeated Ann Chiang in the second round with a 25–24 margin. Chiang then claimed irregularity in the election and challenged the validity of 5 ballot papers of the election, asserting those should not have been counted and the result would have been in her favour. Amongst the five votes concerned, one was marked with numeral "1" and a tick "√" against Tang, one was marked with numeral "1" and "2" but had a counterfoil attached. Two ballots was marked only with a tick against Tang, including one with counterfoil. The remaining one was also marked only with a tick against Tang. On 4 September 1998, the court ruled the votes with a single tick shall not be counted, and therefore Tang and Chiang should have tied with 23 votes each. Tang was declared unduly elected.CHIANG LAI WAN v. TANG SIU TONG AND ANOTHER [1998] HKCFI 313; [1998] 3 HKC 613; HCMP 2575/1998 (4 September 1998) https://www.hklii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/eng/hk/cases/hkcfi/1998/313.html 2022-12-10 www.hklii.org Result The three candidates ran in the general election were once again nominated during the nomination period from 17 to 30 September.3 nominations received for Regional Council FC by-election https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199809/30/0930231.htm 2022-12-10 www.info.gov.hk All 50 Regional Councillors voted in the re-run of the poll.Legislative Council by-election polling closes https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199810/29/1029046.htm 2022-12-10 www.info.gov.hk Ngan Kam-chuen was eliminated again in the first round, and Tang won the seat with a widened margin.Legislative Council by-election result https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199810/29/1029048.htm 2022-12-10 www.info.gov.hk 1998 Regional Council by-election (second round result only) Hong Kong Progressive Alliance Tang Siu-tong 28 56% +4.98 Nonpartisan politician Ann Chiang 22 44% –4.98 DABHK Ngan Kam-chuen – –% – 50 100% +0.02 50 100% +0.02 100 Hong Kong Progressive Alliance +4.98 Aftermath Tang took the oath on 4 November at the first meeting after the election.Taking of Legislative Council Oath Legislative Council of Hong Kong 4 November 1998 https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr98-99/english/counmtg/hansard/981104fe.htm He was the final member of the constituency as the Regional Council was then abolished. Tang was elected in the New Territories West in 2000 election, and retired after his term ended. Chiang later joined the pro-Beijing flagship DAB, and was first elected to the Council in 2012. See also List of Hong Kong by-elections References Category:1998 in Hong Kong Category:1998 elections in China 1998