ICAC receives 21 complaints alleging irregularities in Village Representative Elections
2003-6-16
The ICAC will closely monitor the upcoming Village Representative Elections while 21 complaints alleging irregularities in the polls have been received by the Commission at the close of nomination today (Monday).
The ICAC, which is responsible for enforcing the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO), has stepped up its educational efforts to ensure that the elections are run in a clean and fair manner.
The Village Representative Elections will for the first time come under the regulation of the ECICO since it became effective in March 2000.
An ICAC spokesman said the 21 complaints mainly concerned allegations in relation to the provision of false information, offering of bribes and publishing false or misleading statements.
While reminding candidates to conduct their electioneering activities within the law, the spokesman advised them not to use force, duress, bribes or any other unlawful means to influence the outcome of polls.
Under the ECICO, the maximum penalties for corrupt conduct are a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for seven years and those for illegal conduct are a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The spokesman added that a 24-hour hotline 2920 6530 has been set up for public enquiries about the ECICO and related issues.
"Apart from the hotline, about 50 roving exhibitions have been held in various villages to enhance the candidates and electors' understanding of the ECICO," he added.
Major provisions of the ECICO and related information are highlighted in the exhibition through comics, quiz and games to alert candidates and electors to possible corruption pitfalls in the elections.
Another 15 exhibitions will be held in rural area and major transport interchanges in the coming two months while members of the public can visit the ICAC's Village Representative Elections webpage ( http://www.icac.org.hk/icac/elect/eng/index.html ) for the main points of the ECICO and information related to the elections.
The ICAC, which is responsible for enforcing the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO), has stepped up its educational efforts to ensure that the elections are run in a clean and fair manner.
The Village Representative Elections will for the first time come under the regulation of the ECICO since it became effective in March 2000.
An ICAC spokesman said the 21 complaints mainly concerned allegations in relation to the provision of false information, offering of bribes and publishing false or misleading statements.
While reminding candidates to conduct their electioneering activities within the law, the spokesman advised them not to use force, duress, bribes or any other unlawful means to influence the outcome of polls.
Under the ECICO, the maximum penalties for corrupt conduct are a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for seven years and those for illegal conduct are a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The spokesman added that a 24-hour hotline 2920 6530 has been set up for public enquiries about the ECICO and related issues.
"Apart from the hotline, about 50 roving exhibitions have been held in various villages to enhance the candidates and electors' understanding of the ECICO," he added.
Major provisions of the ECICO and related information are highlighted in the exhibition through comics, quiz and games to alert candidates and electors to possible corruption pitfalls in the elections.
Another 15 exhibitions will be held in rural area and major transport interchanges in the coming two months while members of the public can visit the ICAC's Village Representative Elections webpage ( http://www.icac.org.hk/icac/elect/eng/index.html ) for the main points of the ECICO and information related to the elections.