Only candidates whose background has been cleared by the police's national security department and the Committee for Safeguarding National Security can take part in any election. - Reuters HONG KONG (The Straits Times/ANN): Changes to the laws on the electoral system in the territory are expected to kick in before the end of May, setting the stage for three key polls which critics expect will mean a reduced opposition presence. Draft bills on the amendments were tabled in the Legislative Council (Legco) on Wednesday (April 14), where they were read for the first and second time. Pro-establishment caucus leader Martin Liao told the media after the readings that he hoped the Bills Committee could wrap up the review of the draft laws by mid-May.