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Details of the organisations approved to conduct exit polls on the polling day of the 2015 District Council Ordinary Election were uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk) today (November 17). The information will also be displayed at relevant polling stations on the polling day.
The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has approved four organisations to conduct exit polls at designated polling stations. They are the Hong Kong Research Association, the Public Opinion Programme of the University of Hong Kong, the Association of Community in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Society Monitor.
"To forestall public perception of unfairness, approval to conduct exit polls was granted to the above-mentioned organisations subject to the preconditions that they do not have members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, have not publicly expressed support and will not publicly express support for any candidate in any constituency covered by the exit poll, and will not assign members of any body which has members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll or members of any body which has publicly expressed support for candidates contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll to conduct the exit poll," a spokesman for the REO said.
"The organisations are required to make a statutory declaration not to announce the results of the exit polls before the close of the poll. In particular, they should not release the results to any candidate contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, any person or organisation which has publicly expressed support for any candidate contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, or any organisation with a member or members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll.
"In addition, they should not make specific remarks or predictions on the performance of any individual candidate before the close of the poll as this may affect electors' voting intentions and have an impact on election results," the spokesman added.
"All approved exit poll interviewers are required to wear an identification badge showing clearly the identity of the organisation conducting the poll and the name of the interviewer during the conduct of the exit poll. Also, they should not speak to or communicate with the candidates or their agents there," he said.
"Interviews are not allowed inside polling stations. It is an elector's right to keep their votes secret and electors' participation in exit polls is wholly voluntary," he stressed.
The REO reminded the public that the Government has not commissioned any person or organisation to conduct exit polls.
For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.
Ends/Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:42
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