Secretary for Mainland and Constitutional Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai brushed off Michael Tien Puk-sun's suggestion that legislation be introduced to stop chairmen of the three committees in each of Hong Kong's 18 districts empowered to hand out election nominations from affecting the nomination decisions of their members.

In a Legislative Council meeting yesterday, Tien, convener of Roundtable, said seven members from six committees in two districts originally intended to nominate members of his party to run in the district council elections slated for December 10.

But three of them chickened out after "notifying the chairmen of their relevant district committees.

"I am therefore suggesting legislation to require the chairmen of the three district committees to remain neutral and bar them from affecting members' nomination decisions," Tien said.

But Tsang said: "The nomination process is working effectively, therefore the government has no provision to make changes to it."

Tien also called for briefings for those who intend to stand in the election so that they can meet with members of the three district committees and explain their manifesto.

"If there is not even a chance for a meeting with members of the three district committees, how is this still an election," he added.

In response, Tsang said the government has already provided sufficient channels to those who intend to join the election to reach and ask committee members for nominations.

"Parties can apply for the registers of electors to obtain the names and addresses of the committee members. I believe this is already a very reasonable arrangement," he added.

The debate came two days after only one Roundtable member secured sufficient nominations to join the election, while Tien's party originally planned to field five.

Legco members also urged the government to change the name of the district council election and two constituencies.

New People's Party chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee suggested "2023 District Council Ordinary Election" be changed - as it gives the impression there are "extraordinary elections."

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong's Edward Lau Kwok-fan said the name of two constituencies - Wu Tip Shan, which directly translates as Butterfly Hill, and Robin's Nest, or Red Flower Ridge - might cause people to think they need to climb a hill to cast ballots.

Saying the administration has taken note of the suggestions, Tsang added promotions had been rolled out on the Xiaohongshu social media app to encourage Hongkongers living in the mainland to vote.

Erick Tsang, right, has stymied a push by a Michael Tien who is clearly frustrated by the nominations process. Left: residents in Wan Chai vote in the 2019 district election.

Tien spurned in bid for district nominations law