CMAB follows up election-related complaints in serious manner
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     A spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) said today (July 13) that various government bureaux/departments have received a number of complaints from the public regarding the pro-democratic camp's "primaries" for the 2020 Legislative Council General Election (LCGE) held last weekend (July 11–12), claiming that the "primaries" may have allegedly interfered with and manipulated the LCGE, severely jeopardised the integrity of the electoral process and thereby giving rise to unfairness in the election. Some of the complaints alleged the crowds showed up at the event venues indicated a violation of the prohibition on group gathering, and some are concerned with the lack of protection of personal data collected from the public which might lead to misuse and thereby breaching the relevant provisions under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

     Apart from the above, some of the complaints are related to the organiser's vow, of which to veto government's budget after "winning 35 or more seats in the Legislative Council" in order to achieve "mutual destruction", may constitute a breach of the offence of subversion under Article 22 of The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which stated that a person shall be guilty of an offence if a person seriously interferes in, disrupts, undermines the performance of duties and functions in accordance with the law by the body of central power of the People's Republic of China or the body of power of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by force or threat of force or other unlawful means.

     Regarding the complaints, the Government is now conducting an in-depth investigation and will seek legal advice if necessary. In case of any violation of the relevant laws and regulations, the Government will immediately refer the case to relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and apprehension in accordance with the law.

     The spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau reiterates that election is an earnestly serious matter. The Government is committed to ensuring that public elections are held in an open, fair and honest manner. If anyone is found to have committed acts of deceit or violated any law during the electoral process, the Government will handle the case in a serious manner and there shall be no tolerance, and will investigate the case and apprehend offenders in accordance with the law. The ordinance of election in Hong Kong will not recognise nor approve the format, procedure and results of the so-called "primaries" held by the pro-democratic camp.

Ends/Monday, July 13, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:16

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