The Special Administrative Region (SAR) will have 12 deputies to the 10th NPC, but 20-odd people from every walk of life have already drawn registration forms to fill in as electioneers since the registration office opened on Nov. 5, sources said.

After handing in his registration form, Vong Fong Va, director of the Macao Chinese Education Association, said that if he is elected, he will work with other deputies to participate in the management of state affairs and reflect the views and opinions of Macao compatriots.

Vong, a current NPC deputy, said he will focus his efforts on collecting advice about boosting both the motherland and Macao through education, science and technology.

Chow Kan Fai David, a member of the Macao Legislative Assembly, told Xinhua that he has summed up certain experience in legislative affairs over the past few years, and participation in NPC deputy election will hopefully open a wider channel for him to represent the idea of Macao people.

Pun Iok Lan, a deputy to the 9th NPC, showed confidence for her re-election, saying that she will be particularly concerned about China's inland efforts to solve the unemployment problem, since the experience can be used to alleviate the jobless strains in Macao.

The registration office will accept electioneers' forms between Nov. 5 and 19. According to election procedures, a person who wants to contest need to be at least 18 years old and be a Chinese citizen, and he or she must also have obtained at least 10nominations from the 203-member Conference for Electing Deputies of the Macao SAR to the 10th NPC of China for his or her election registration to be effective.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2002)