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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The Electoral Affairs Commission today (June 23) released for public consultation the proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) Elections.
Speaking at a press conference today, Commission Chairman Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah said, "Members of the public are welcome to express their views on the proposed guidelines before the consultation closes on July 22.
"The proposed guidelines are based on the existing guidelines for the ECSS Elections with suitable alterations mainly to reflect the legislative amendments made earlier to the 2011 Chief Executive Election (Amendment) Ordinance in relation to the ECSS Elections and the proposed legislative amendments to the relevant subsidiary legislation under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance.
"Subject to the enactment of the relevant legislative amendments, the proposed changes will be incorporated in the finalised guidelines. Some proposed amendments are also made in the light of views received from the public and other parties concerned," he said.
The proposed guidelines are updated to reflect the increase of the number of Election Committee members from 800 to 1 200 and the allocation of 1 200 seats to the existing four subsectors.
The proposed guidelines also set out the arrangement for registration of the newly elected District Council (DC) members in the DC election in November as the voters of the District Councils subsectors, and publication of the revised final register for the Hong Kong and Kowloon District Councils subsector and the New Territories District Councils subsector.
The arrangements for candidates to post joint promotional letters to electors free of postage are stated in the proposed guidelines, subject to the enactment of the relevant legislative amendments.
On the guidelines for the production of election-related programmes by licensed TV and radio in Chapter 10 of the proposed guidelines for the DC Election, Mr Justice Fung said the Commission received a considerable number of public views during the consultation period which ended yesterday (June 22) opposing the proposal to extend the guidelines to cover Internet TV and radio.
"The Commission put forward this proposal with an aim to ensure that all candidates are treated fairly and equally in elections.
"In the light of the increasing popularity of the Internet, which can widely reach the public, the Internet programmes relating to candidates contesting in elections have substantial impact on elections. The Commission released the proposed guidelines for public consultation with a view to bringing up for discussion whether these programmes should also abide by the guidelines," Mr Justice Fung said.
"I have to reiterate that the Commission has no intention to regulate discussion or broadcasting activities on the Internet. There are absolutely no political considerations.
"After carefully considering the views collected, the Commission takes the view that it is not appropriate to take forward this proposal. Licensed TV and radio broadcast their programmes using public broadcasting spectrums and have profound influence on society. As the broadcasting platform is not an open one, they have to abide by the guidelines. However, Internet is an open platform. Everyone can broadcast programmes on the Internet and no one can monopolise its use," Mr Justice Fung said.
Mr Justice Fung reiterated that under the existing legislation, anyone who conducts any election-related activities which promote or prejudice the election of a candidate or another candidate have to follow the legislative provisions governing election advertisements and election expenses.
For consistency, the chapter on election broadcasting, media reporting and election forums in the finalised ECSS Elections guidelines will be aligned with the corresponding chapter of the finalised DC Election guidelines.
"All written representations on the proposed guidelines on ECSS Elections must reach the Commission by July 22. Late submissions will not be considered," he said.
Written representations can be sent to the Commission's Secretariat by post to 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; by fax (2511 1682); or by email (eacenq@reo.gov.hk) before the deadline.
Members of the public can also attend a public forum to express their views. The forum will be held at 3pm on July 15 at Community Hall, 3/F Causeway Bay Community Centre, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay.
The proposed guidelines can be downloaded from the Commission website (www.eac.gov.hk). They can also be obtained at the Registration and Electoral Office and the Public Enquiry Service Centres of District Offices.
For enquiries, please call 2891 1001.
Ends/Thursday, June 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:04
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