ICAC publicity drive hammers home clean rural election message
2018-11-9
The ICAC has embarked on a series of education and publicity initiatives to hammer home to candidates and electors the importance of upholding a clean and fair Rural Representative Election which opens for nomination today (November 9).
Under the 2019 Rural Representative Election, the Village Representative Election will be conducted on January 6 and 13 next year, followed by the Kaifong Representative Election for Market Towns to be held on January 20.
“To help candidates and election helpers participating in various rural elections to better understand the requirements of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO), a copy of ‘Clean Rural Elections Information Booklet’ produced by the ICAC will be distributed to all candidates when they submit their nomination forms,” said Ms Monica Yu Wai-fan, ICAC’s Programme Coordinator (Clean Elections).
The Booklet contains a “Questions and Answers” section summarising enquiries and concerns raised by candidates of previous rural elections, a gist of past election-related cases, as well as a handy “Dos and Don’ts Checklist” for candidates and election helpers when conducting electioneering activities.
Apart from organising briefing sessions for candidates and their election agents and helpers, talks are also arranged for elderly centres serving the rural districts to help promote the clean election message to senior electors.
As “vote-rigging” remained a major concern in previous rural elections, a tailor-made “anti-vote-rigging” pamphlet will be distributed through Home Affairs Department’s voter registration counters.
“In addition, three newly produced 30-second filmlets warning the public against ‘vote-rigging’ offences and election bribery are posted online and broadcast on bus, railway and ferry media channels to reach rural commuters,” Yu added.
The filmlets featured possible scenarios and pitfalls in rural elections such as voting after providing false or misleading information in voter registration, bribe-for-vote, and offering/accepting food or entertainment at an election.
Meanwhile, 19 roving exhibitions under the “2019 Clean Rural Representative Election” programme are being staged between September and December in rural districts including Cheung Chau and Peng Chau where the Kaifong Representative Election will be held.
During the election period, the ICAC also runs an hotline (2920 7878) for public enquiries relating to the ECICO and ICAC’s education and publicity initiatives for the Rural Representative Election.
Relevant educational materials concerning the Rural Representative Election are available for downloading from the ICAC’s “Clean Rural Elections” webpage at www.icac.org.hk/icac/elect/2019re.
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected breaches of the ECICO in relation to the Rural Representative Election by visiting the ICAC Headquarters or any Regional Offices in person, or by calling the 24-hour Report Centre hotline at 2526 6366.
Under the 2019 Rural Representative Election, the Village Representative Election will be conducted on January 6 and 13 next year, followed by the Kaifong Representative Election for Market Towns to be held on January 20.
“To help candidates and election helpers participating in various rural elections to better understand the requirements of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO), a copy of ‘Clean Rural Elections Information Booklet’ produced by the ICAC will be distributed to all candidates when they submit their nomination forms,” said Ms Monica Yu Wai-fan, ICAC’s Programme Coordinator (Clean Elections).
The Booklet contains a “Questions and Answers” section summarising enquiries and concerns raised by candidates of previous rural elections, a gist of past election-related cases, as well as a handy “Dos and Don’ts Checklist” for candidates and election helpers when conducting electioneering activities.
Apart from organising briefing sessions for candidates and their election agents and helpers, talks are also arranged for elderly centres serving the rural districts to help promote the clean election message to senior electors.
As “vote-rigging” remained a major concern in previous rural elections, a tailor-made “anti-vote-rigging” pamphlet will be distributed through Home Affairs Department’s voter registration counters.
“In addition, three newly produced 30-second filmlets warning the public against ‘vote-rigging’ offences and election bribery are posted online and broadcast on bus, railway and ferry media channels to reach rural commuters,” Yu added.
The filmlets featured possible scenarios and pitfalls in rural elections such as voting after providing false or misleading information in voter registration, bribe-for-vote, and offering/accepting food or entertainment at an election.
Meanwhile, 19 roving exhibitions under the “2019 Clean Rural Representative Election” programme are being staged between September and December in rural districts including Cheung Chau and Peng Chau where the Kaifong Representative Election will be held.
During the election period, the ICAC also runs an hotline (2920 7878) for public enquiries relating to the ECICO and ICAC’s education and publicity initiatives for the Rural Representative Election.
Relevant educational materials concerning the Rural Representative Election are available for downloading from the ICAC’s “Clean Rural Elections” webpage at www.icac.org.hk/icac/elect/2019re.
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected breaches of the ECICO in relation to the Rural Representative Election by visiting the ICAC Headquarters or any Regional Offices in person, or by calling the 24-hour Report Centre hotline at 2526 6366.