********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
Organisations wishing to register or amend their names, abbreviations of names and emblems with the Electoral Affairs Commission; and individuals wishing to register or amend their emblems in the 2008 registration cycle, are reminded to submit their applications by April 15.
"Under the Particulars Relating to Candidates on Ballot Papers (Legislative Council and District Councils) Regulation (Cap. 541M), candidates of Legislative Council and District Council elections or by-elections may apply to have specified particulars printed on the ballot papers," a commission spokesman said today (March 17).
These particulars include the names, the abbreviations of the names and the emblems of prescribed bodies; the personal emblems and photographs of the candidates, as well as the words "Independent Candidate" or the words "Non-affiliated Candidate".
"The names, the abbreviations of the names and the emblems of prescribed bodies, and the personal emblems need to be registered with the commission beforehand," the spokesman said.
"Although applications can be submitted any time during the year, only those that reach the commission by the statutory deadline will be processed within the registration cycle in that year."
"Applications submitted after the cut-off date of April 15 in the 2008 registration cycle will be processed in the 2009 registration cycle. Only applications submitted on or before April 15 will be processed in time for the 2008 Legislative Council Election on September 7," he said.
The Commission will carefully consider all applications in accordance with the criteria and procedures set out in the Regulation.
Details of all successful applications will be gazetted, and open to public inspection at the Registration and Electoral Office during office hours.
Application forms are available at the Registration and Electoral Office and all District Offices, and can be downloaded from the commission website (www.eac.gov.hk).
Enquiries about the application procedure can be made to the hotline on 2891 1001.
Ends/Monday, March 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:07
NNNN
