Backgrounder: Elections for Macao's Legislative Assembly

Elections for the third term of theLegislative Assembly (LA) of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) started in Macao Sunday morning.

The LA is Macao's legislature. Under the Basic Law of the MSAR of the People's Republic of China, the main functions of the LA are to enact laws, examine and approve budgets, taxation and public expenditure, and monitor the work of the government.

The first LA consists of 23 members, with eight members from the direct elections, eight members from the indirect elections, and seven members being nominated by the chief executive of the MSAR.

The LA in the second term was composed of 27 members, with 10 members from the direct elections, 10 members from the indirect elections, and seven members being nominated by the chief executive.

The LA in the third and following terms will be composed of 29 members, with 12 members from the direct elections, 10 members from the indirect elections, and seven members as nominated by thechief executive.

This year, a total of 125 candidates from 18 social groups contested in the direct elections.

In the region with a population of nearly 470,000, 220,653 haveregistered for the direct election poll.

Source: Xinhua