ICAC launches holistic education and publicity drive for clean LegCo Election
2020-7-17
The ICAC has kicked off a multi-faceted education and publicity campaign to drive home the message of safeguarding a clean and fair Legislative Council (LegCo) Election as nominations open tomorrow (July 18).
To maximize its reach in the community, the Commission has commenced running flash roadshows since last month, visiting over 180 venues across the territory to promote the clean election message through e-games, publicity leaflets and information packages.
Upon submitting their nominations, candidates will be given a copy of the ICAC’s “Clean Legislative Council Election” information booklet, containing the gist of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) enforced by the ICAC.
“Candidates, election agents and their helpers are strongly advised to refer to a Dos and Don’ts checklist in the booklet in conducting electioneering activities to avoid inadvertently contravening the law,” said ICAC’s Programme Coordinator (Clean Elections) Franklin Chiu Yue-tat.
Mr Chiu noted that the campaign would also address issues of concerns revealed in previous public elections such as using online platforms and social media for electioneering, providing free transportation for taking electors to polling stations and using force or duress to prevent prospective candidates from running in an election, as well as spreading false or misleading messages to prevent electors from voting.
In addition to attending briefings organised by the Electoral Affairs Commission, ICAC representatives would also host over 60 briefing sessions and related education programmes for major political parties/organisations, specified bodies of functional constituencies, members and staff of elderly centres and elderly homes, as well as students of tertiary institutions. The spirit of the electoral law and the importance of upholding a clean and fair election will be promoted at these events.
In the coming two months before the election, the ICAC will offer training and provide reference materials for about 30,000 staff members of polling stations, Returning Officers as well as Presiding Officers and their deputies in a bid to strengthen their understanding of the ECICO.
Mr Chiu noted that the support clean election message will also be disseminated through the ICAC’s online and offline initiatives. Apart from a TV and radio advertisement entitled “Say No to Electoral Bribery”, a “Guidelines for Electors” leaflet containing the gist of the electoral law will be mailed to all electors together with the poll card from the Registration and Electoral Office.
Meanwhile, “anti-vote-rigging” pamphlets and relevant publicity leaflets in 10 languages other than Chinese and English will reach citizens of diverse race through various community activities, Mr Chiu added.
The 2020 LegCo Election, scheduled to take place on September 6 this year, will open for nominations tomorrow till July 31.
Members of the public can access information relating to ICAC’s education and publicity initiatives for the 2020 LegCo Election on its dedicated website (www.icac.org.hk/elections). A telephone hotline 2920 7878 is in operation to answer enquiries on the ECICO and the Commission’s education and publicity programmes for the election.
Members of the public who come across suspected breaches of the ECICO are encouraged to report in person to the ICAC Report Centre or any of the seven regional offices, or by phone to the ICAC Report Centre which runs a round-the-clock hotline 25 266 366.
To maximize its reach in the community, the Commission has commenced running flash roadshows since last month, visiting over 180 venues across the territory to promote the clean election message through e-games, publicity leaflets and information packages.
Upon submitting their nominations, candidates will be given a copy of the ICAC’s “Clean Legislative Council Election” information booklet, containing the gist of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) enforced by the ICAC.
“Candidates, election agents and their helpers are strongly advised to refer to a Dos and Don’ts checklist in the booklet in conducting electioneering activities to avoid inadvertently contravening the law,” said ICAC’s Programme Coordinator (Clean Elections) Franklin Chiu Yue-tat.
Mr Chiu noted that the campaign would also address issues of concerns revealed in previous public elections such as using online platforms and social media for electioneering, providing free transportation for taking electors to polling stations and using force or duress to prevent prospective candidates from running in an election, as well as spreading false or misleading messages to prevent electors from voting.
In addition to attending briefings organised by the Electoral Affairs Commission, ICAC representatives would also host over 60 briefing sessions and related education programmes for major political parties/organisations, specified bodies of functional constituencies, members and staff of elderly centres and elderly homes, as well as students of tertiary institutions. The spirit of the electoral law and the importance of upholding a clean and fair election will be promoted at these events.
In the coming two months before the election, the ICAC will offer training and provide reference materials for about 30,000 staff members of polling stations, Returning Officers as well as Presiding Officers and their deputies in a bid to strengthen their understanding of the ECICO.
Mr Chiu noted that the support clean election message will also be disseminated through the ICAC’s online and offline initiatives. Apart from a TV and radio advertisement entitled “Say No to Electoral Bribery”, a “Guidelines for Electors” leaflet containing the gist of the electoral law will be mailed to all electors together with the poll card from the Registration and Electoral Office.
Meanwhile, “anti-vote-rigging” pamphlets and relevant publicity leaflets in 10 languages other than Chinese and English will reach citizens of diverse race through various community activities, Mr Chiu added.
The 2020 LegCo Election, scheduled to take place on September 6 this year, will open for nominations tomorrow till July 31.
Members of the public can access information relating to ICAC’s education and publicity initiatives for the 2020 LegCo Election on its dedicated website (www.icac.org.hk/elections). A telephone hotline 2920 7878 is in operation to answer enquiries on the ECICO and the Commission’s education and publicity programmes for the election.
Members of the public who come across suspected breaches of the ECICO are encouraged to report in person to the ICAC Report Centre or any of the seven regional offices, or by phone to the ICAC Report Centre which runs a round-the-clock hotline 25 266 366.
