The election for the next-term Chief Executive (CE) will take place on Sunday, March 25, Stephen Lam, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, said yesterday.

Unlike previous major elections that were held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, which has been booked by other events, polling and vote counting of this year's CE election will be held at the AsiaWorld Expo Convention and Exhibition near the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.

In accordance with the electoral law, a three-week lobbying period will precede the polling day, preceded by a two-week nomination period. But as February 18 happens to be the first day of the Lunar New Year, the nomination period may start from February 21 after the public holidays.

Polling will take place from 9 am to 10 am on March 25, Lam said yesterday. If no winner is returned, second and third rounds of voting will take place from 2 pm to 3 pm and 7 pm to 8 pm the same day.

"The first round lasts just one hour because we have to reserve time for contingencies," he said over a lunch with media representatives.

He also said should there be just one valid candidate, only his/her name will appear on the ballot papers and the voters will be required to indicate if they support or not support the candidate.

If there are two valid candidates, two names will appear on the ballots for the voters to indicate their choice by using the stamp provided and so forth.

As to whether the returning officer will read out the name of the candidates every time when a vote is counted, he said the government hasn't yet decided. He agreed that it is not the Hong Kong style to "sing out" the votes but this could greatly enhance the atmosphere from the media's point of view. But again he stressed that efficiency is the primary consideration.

On the question of whether the government will hold election forums, Permanent Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Cherry Ling indicated that they would only do so in the event of two or more candidates competing in the election. She said: "There are many things we have to consider. For example, which candidate(s) or the government should bear the relevant expenses?"

On the methods of selecting the CE and the Legislative Council by universal suffrage after 2007 and 2008, Lam said the Commission on Strategic Development would hold a meeting on January 25.

"Members are getting closer as to the method of returning the CE but they are still divided as to the future of the functional constituencies. I hope members can narrow their differences or we have to hold further meetings before we can prepare the final report," he said.