Chief Executive John Lee on Friday described the upcoming Legislative Council election as a high-quality contest and healthy competition, in which candidates will demonstrate the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”.

In a Facebook post, Lee noted that there are 30 days left until polling day on December 7.

He said that the election will be fiercely contested, with candidates having to work hard to stand out.

He noted that, in the geographical constituencies, 51 candidates are competing for 20 seats -- making the race highly challenging.

The competition is most fierce in Kowloon Central, he added, with six candidates vying for just two seats.

“Candidates must go all out to compete on platforms, capability, and commitment, using concrete results and sincerity to convince voters that they are the most suitable and virtuous people to serve the public," he wrote.

“This election is not about smears, sowing discord, or personal attacks; it is a high-quality contest and healthy competition in which candidates demonstrate the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong.’”

He said he chaired a coordination task force meeting again on Friday to ensure that the government works in a unified and determined manner to organise the election effectively.

He reminded voters to familiarise themselves with the candidates so that they can pick their preferred Legco representatives.

He added that the vetting committee will announce the list of candidates with valid nominations as soon as possible.

The CE noted that from next week, authorities will organise election forums for each constituency, giving all candidates a fair chance to present their platforms.