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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The Electoral Affairs Commission today (October 11) released the proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the Chief Executive Election for public consultation.
"Members of the public are welcome to send in their written representations before the consultation ends on October 24," Commission Chairman Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah said at a press conference today.
"A new set of proposed guidelines has been drawn up by the Electoral Affairs Commission for the next Chief Executive Election to be held on March 25 next year. The proposed guidelines are based on the existing guidelines for the Chief Executive Election with suitable alterations mainly to reflect the latest amendments in the electoral legislation," Mr Justice Fung said.
One of the major changes in the proposed guidelines is that a person who intends to stand for election must have his nomination subscribed by not less than 150 members of the Election Committee.
To reflect the amendments made to the Chief Executive Election Ordinance regarding the polling arrangements, the proposed guidelines set out that whether in a contested election or in an election with only one candidate, a candidate will be returned at the election if he obtains votes from more than half of the members of the Election Committee (i.e. more than 600 valid votes). The polling arrangements for an election contested by more than two candidates are also stated in the proposed guidelines.
The election expense limit has been revised to $13 million, as specified in the Maximum Amount of Election Expenses (Chief Executive Election) Regulation.
Arrangements for submitting by electronic means the declaration and copy of an election advertisement to be displayed, distributed or otherwise used by electronic means are also set out in the proposed guidelines.
In addition, in light of the new provisions of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, the proposed guidelines state that if a candidate has identified minor errors and/or false statements in his election return, the aggregate value of which does not exceed $5,000, he may make a request to the Chief Electoral Officer for rectification under the relief mechanism.
The proposed guidelines have also updated the number of members to be returned to each sector and subsector of the Election Committee.
Written representations can be sent to the Commission's Secretariat by post to 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; by fax to 2511 1682; or by email to eacenq@reo.gov.hk before the deadline. Late submissions will not be considered.
Members of the public may also express their views at a public forum to be held on October 20 from 6.30pm to 8pm at the Leighton Hill Community Hall, 133 Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley.
The proposed guidelines can be downloaded from the Commission website (www.eac.gov.hk), or obtained from the Registration and Electoral Office and the Public Enquiry Service Centres of District Offices.
For enquiries, please call 2891 1001.
Ends/Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:11
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