Candidates and voters urged to keep VR By-elections clean and fair
2004-2-21
ICAC has set up a 24-hour election hotline for public enquiries about the upcoming Village Representative (VR) By-elections which commence its nomination today (Saturday).
The hotline 2920 6530 has been launched for enquiries in relation to the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) and other related issues during the election period.
The By-elections, scheduled for March 28, will return 90 village representative seats left vacant in the 2003 Village Representative Elections.
“We have also published an information booklet featuring major provisions of the ECICO to help candidates and election agents better understand the legislation, to avoid any inadvertent breaches of the law,” ICAC’s Programme Co-ordinator (Elections), Miss Rosaline Cheung Oi-lung said.
With the assistance of the Home Affairs Department, the booklet will be distributed to candidates when they submit their nomination forms.
Miss Cheung said the ICAC would participate in a briefing organised by the Electoral Affairs Commission on March 8 to expound on the provisions of the ECICO and alert candidates and election agents to possible corruption pitfalls in elections.
“Upon request, ICAC officers can also arrange visits or attend briefings to explain the ECICO to candidates, election agents and helpers,” Miss Cheung added.
A publicity leaflet will be mailed to voters reminding them of the importance of abiding by the law and appealing them to support a clean and fair election.
Main points of the ECICO and related information have been uploaded onto the ICAC website ( http://www.icac.org.hk ) for browsing and downloading.
So far, the ICAC has received 135 complaints alleging irregularities in the last VR election. Of the 17 persons being prosecuted, two were convicted on voting offences and sentenced to one to three months’ imprisonment. The trials of the remaining prosecution cases are still pending.
The hotline 2920 6530 has been launched for enquiries in relation to the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) and other related issues during the election period.
The By-elections, scheduled for March 28, will return 90 village representative seats left vacant in the 2003 Village Representative Elections.
“We have also published an information booklet featuring major provisions of the ECICO to help candidates and election agents better understand the legislation, to avoid any inadvertent breaches of the law,” ICAC’s Programme Co-ordinator (Elections), Miss Rosaline Cheung Oi-lung said.
With the assistance of the Home Affairs Department, the booklet will be distributed to candidates when they submit their nomination forms.
Miss Cheung said the ICAC would participate in a briefing organised by the Electoral Affairs Commission on March 8 to expound on the provisions of the ECICO and alert candidates and election agents to possible corruption pitfalls in elections.
“Upon request, ICAC officers can also arrange visits or attend briefings to explain the ECICO to candidates, election agents and helpers,” Miss Cheung added.
A publicity leaflet will be mailed to voters reminding them of the importance of abiding by the law and appealing them to support a clean and fair election.
Main points of the ECICO and related information have been uploaded onto the ICAC website ( http://www.icac.org.hk ) for browsing and downloading.
So far, the ICAC has received 135 complaints alleging irregularities in the last VR election. Of the 17 persons being prosecuted, two were convicted on voting offences and sentenced to one to three months’ imprisonment. The trials of the remaining prosecution cases are still pending.