EAC appeals to members of public to safeguard District Council Ordinary Election held every four years
******************************************************************************************
The 2019 District Council Ordinary Election will be held on November 24 (Sunday). The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today (November 1) appeals to members of the public to be calm and rational. Every sector of the community is also urged to stop all threats and violence, and to respect the election-related activities conducted by people with different political views.
"After the end of the nomination period, it is believed that candidates and their supporters have commenced and participated in electioneering activities. The EAC calls upon the community to make the best efforts to ensure that the election can proceed in a peaceful and safe manner," said a spokesman for the EAC.
"More than 4.13 million registered electors are eligible to vote in the coming District Council Election. Given that the number of valid nominations reaches 1 090, and over 600 ordinary polling stations will be open on the polling day, it is evident that the election is on a massive scale with a large number of nominees.
"Notwithstanding that our staff are devoting all efforts to prepare for the election's various aspects, all people in Hong Kong must work together to support the holding of the District Council Election - which is for the whole community - in a peaceful, orderly, fair and open manner," he added.
"The election is all about making use of the vote we have, to express our views in a peaceful manner. We call on everyone to exercise restraint and not to resort to violence. Hong Kong is under the rule of law. Members of the public should resolve controversial issues by the principles of lawfulness, fairness and reasonableness. We urge everyone to cherish the District Council Election, which is a very important platform, and not to sabotage the long-standing good election culture in Hong Kong, so that the 4.13 million registered electors can cast their votes in a peaceful and safe environment on the polling day.
"Members of the public should report immediately to the law enforcement agencies should they encounter any violence, whether or not it is in connection with the election. If complaints are received by the EAC, the cases would also be referred to the agencies. If anyone is not satisfied with the electoral arrangements, they can make complaints or make election petitions through judicial proceedings to resolve the disputes," the spokesman said.
The EAC is an independent, apolitical and impartial body. As in the past, the EAC is committed to ensuring that public elections are held in an open, fair and honest manner.
Ends/Friday, November 1, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:56
Issued at HKT 16:56
NNNN