ICAC urges public to uphold clean and fair DC Election
2019-10-4
The ICAC has kicked off a series of multi-faceted education and publicity initiatives to remind candidates, election helpers and electors to abide by the law and uphold a clean and fair District Council (DC) Election.
The DC Election, scheduled to take place on November 24 this year, is open for nomination today (October 4) till October 17.
To help candidates and election helpers better understand the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) and common pitfalls when conducting electioneering activities, the ICAC had earlier organised talks and briefings for political parties and various district organisations.
So far, over 200 talks highlighting the gist of the electoral law and the importance of a clean and fair election were also arranged in the community for members of elderly centres, estate management advisory bodies as well as students of tertiary institutions.
Over the past few months, five regional briefings were also held to expound on major provisions of the ECICO for incumbent DC members and their assistants, members of building management bodies and district organisations.
“At those face-to-face briefings, participants’ major concerns included issues relating to bribery and treating, election expenses, claims of support as well as election advertisements,” said ICAC Programme Coordinator (Clean Elections) Ms Monica Yu Wai-fan.
In order to engage newly-registered young electors, the ICAC’s “Support Clean Elections” programme was also extended to tertiary education institutions.
“Under the programme, 13 tertiary institutions undertook to organise various activities to promote the clean election message on their campuses. These included talks for office-bearers of student organisations, exhibitions, broadcasting of ICAC filmlets and publishing feature articles on different platforms,” Ms Yu said.
All candidates, upon submitting their nomination forms, will be given a copy of the ICAC’s “Clean District Council Election” information booklet through the assistance of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO).
The booklet consists a Questions and Answers section which spells out the spirit of the ECICO and its application; a Gist of Past Election Cases; and a Dos and Don’ts Checklist to help candidates and their helpers stay alert when conducting electioneering activities.
The clean election message is also disseminated through the ICAC’s online and offline promotion initiatives. Apart from TV and radio advertisements “Say No to Electoral Bribery”, a series of six newly-produced educational videos have been launched to bring out the important points-to-note in a lively manner. Two cartoon videos carrying similar messages will also be posted on various social media platforms.
A “Guidelines for Electors” leaflet containing the gist of the electoral law will be mailed to all electors together with the poll card sent by the REO.
In addition, pamphlets, posters and calendar cards to promote “anti-vote-rigging”, as well as publicity leaflets in seven different ethnic minority languages carrying the clean election message, will reach citizens through different community activities.
Members of the public can access information relating to ICAC’s education and publicity initiatives for the 2019 DC Election on the dedicated website on Clean DC Election (www.icac.org.hk/elections).
Ms Yu added that the ICAC has also set up an election enquiry hotline 2920 7878 to answer enquiries about the ECICO and the Commission’s education and publicity programmes for the election.
Members of the public who come across any 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.
The DC Election, scheduled to take place on November 24 this year, is open for nomination today (October 4) till October 17.
To help candidates and election helpers better understand the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) and common pitfalls when conducting electioneering activities, the ICAC had earlier organised talks and briefings for political parties and various district organisations.
So far, over 200 talks highlighting the gist of the electoral law and the importance of a clean and fair election were also arranged in the community for members of elderly centres, estate management advisory bodies as well as students of tertiary institutions.
Over the past few months, five regional briefings were also held to expound on major provisions of the ECICO for incumbent DC members and their assistants, members of building management bodies and district organisations.
“At those face-to-face briefings, participants’ major concerns included issues relating to bribery and treating, election expenses, claims of support as well as election advertisements,” said ICAC Programme Coordinator (Clean Elections) Ms Monica Yu Wai-fan.
In order to engage newly-registered young electors, the ICAC’s “Support Clean Elections” programme was also extended to tertiary education institutions.
“Under the programme, 13 tertiary institutions undertook to organise various activities to promote the clean election message on their campuses. These included talks for office-bearers of student organisations, exhibitions, broadcasting of ICAC filmlets and publishing feature articles on different platforms,” Ms Yu said.
All candidates, upon submitting their nomination forms, will be given a copy of the ICAC’s “Clean District Council Election” information booklet through the assistance of the Registration and Electoral Office (REO).
The booklet consists a Questions and Answers section which spells out the spirit of the ECICO and its application; a Gist of Past Election Cases; and a Dos and Don’ts Checklist to help candidates and their helpers stay alert when conducting electioneering activities.
The clean election message is also disseminated through the ICAC’s online and offline promotion initiatives. Apart from TV and radio advertisements “Say No to Electoral Bribery”, a series of six newly-produced educational videos have been launched to bring out the important points-to-note in a lively manner. Two cartoon videos carrying similar messages will also be posted on various social media platforms.
A “Guidelines for Electors” leaflet containing the gist of the electoral law will be mailed to all electors together with the poll card sent by the REO.
In addition, pamphlets, posters and calendar cards to promote “anti-vote-rigging”, as well as publicity leaflets in seven different ethnic minority languages carrying the clean election message, will reach citizens through different community activities.
Members of the public can access information relating to ICAC’s education and publicity initiatives for the 2019 DC Election on the dedicated website on Clean DC Election (www.icac.org.hk/elections).
Ms Yu added that the ICAC has also set up an election enquiry hotline 2920 7878 to answer enquiries about the ECICO and the Commission’s education and publicity programmes for the election.
Members of the public who come across any 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.