Seven registered voters of the 2003 Village Representative (VR) Election were today (Thursday) charged by the ICAC for allegedly committing voting offences in the VR election for She Shan Tsuen, Lam Tsuen.

The defendants are: Chan Sze-keung, 40; Ng Fung-lan, 39; Chan Ka-king, 21; Chan Tin-wan, 43; Lee Ha-kwan, 48; Chan Sau-kwan, 47; and Chan Kai-kit, 28.

They will appear in Shatin Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Friday), each facing one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at an election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.

The defendants are alleged of having engaged in corrupt conduct at the 2003 Village Representative Election (Resident Representative) for She Shan Tsuen by voting at the election on July 19, 2003, after having given to an electoral officer information tha t they knew to be materially false or misleading.

The alleged false information, contained in a declaration in their Applications for Voter Registration (Village Representative Election –'96 Resident Representative), purportedly showed that:

- the principal residential address of the defendants was a premises in She Shan Tsuen, Lam Tsuen;

- the principal residential address was their only or main residence in Hong Kong; and

- they had been residents of She Shan Tsuen for the three years immediately before applying to be registered and were eligible to be registered as an elector for an existing village.

The defendants are currently on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.