HONG KONG -- Polling for the Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election will proceed as scheduled on Dec 7, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Eight election forums will be held from Wednesday to Thursday, with candidates' views on supporting recovery efforts following the recent residential fire in Tai Po to be incorporated appropriately. Polling stations in Tai Po will be rescheduled due to the fire impact.

Eric Chan, chief secretary for the HKSAR government, emphasized that the LegCo serves as a key partner in the HKSAR government's governance. "Electing capable and aspirational LegCo members is a crucial step on the path to reconstruction after the Tai Po fire," he said.

The HKSAR government's support and follow-up work for affected residents will remain uninterrupted, Chan said, noting that completing the election as scheduled "upholds social stability and provides strong backing for post-disaster reconstruction."

In light of the residential fire, Chan announced that the HKSAR government will cancel the planned Election Fun Day originally set for Dec 6, retaining only informational activities.

Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the HKSAR government, said that the Registration and Electoral Office will rearrange three polling stations in Tai Po District. The Registration and Electoral Office has sent notifications to voters, specifying the polling stations assigned to them as well as the new polling time, he said.