**********************************************************
In response to media enquiries on whether Election Committee members are allowed to take photographs in the polling station of the Chief Executive Election on March 25, a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office gave the following response today (March 16):
"In accordance with the legislation, Election Committee members are not allowed to communicate with others, in particular to show their vote on the ballot paper to others, and to film, take photographs or make any audio or video recording inside the main polling station. They are also not allowed to remove a ballot paper from the main polling station.
It is also stated in the law that no person shall communicate to another person any information obtained in a polling station as to which candidate an elector is about to vote for or has voted for. No person shall also directly or indirectly induce an elector to display a ballot paper marked by the elector so as to make known to any person any information as to which candidate the elector has voted for.
In addition, it is an offence for any person to display any propaganda material relating to any candidate or the election, disrupt the poll or counting of votes, disturb or cause inconvenience to any person, or otherwise misconduct himself inside the main polling station and the central counting station.
Sufficient staff and security guards will be deployed at the main polling station and the central counting station to maintain order. In the event that there is a breach of the law, the Returning Officer or the Presiding Officer may order the person involved to leave the main polling station or the central counting station immediately."
Ends/Friday, March 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:15
NNNN
