2600224 C.S. 84
XCR(72)166
RESTRICTED
2
Fresh Polls
3
During the Urban Council election in 1971, the Queen Eliza- beth School, one of the polling stations in Kowloon, was burgled on the night before the election and the store in which the ballot papers were kept was ransacked. Fortunately, the ballot papers and other election documents were left intact. As a result of this incident, it is considered necessary to empower the presiding officer of a polling station to declare a poll to be void if he discovers that any ballot paper or copy of the reg- ister of electors is missing and if he is of the opinion that the result of the poll is likely to be affected. Regulation 4 of the Urban Council Elec- tions (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 1972 at Annex B confers this power on the presiding officer by adding regulation 40A to the prin- cipal Regulations. This regulation also provides that the returning officer shall organize a fresh poll within seven days of the day appointed for the taking of the original poll.
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In order to confer authority on the Governor in Council to make this regulation, it is necessary to amend section 30 of the Urban Council Ordinance (Chapter 101). The bill at Annex A has been drafted for this purpose.
Extension of Time for Nominations
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At present, regulation 4 of the Urban Council Elections (Procedure) Regulations requires a candidate to complete the nomina- tion procedure prescribed in regulations 7 and 8 of the same Regula- tions within 12 days. This period is rather short and can cause diffi- culty for some candidates. Regulation 2 of the Urban Council Elec- tions (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 1972 at Annex B provides that candidates should be given 15 days to complete the procedure. The consequential amendment to Form 1 of the schedule to the principal Regulations is effected by regulation 5(a).
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It is also proposed to revise the format of the ballot paper to facilitate the printing of counterfoil and serial numbers. Regulations 3 and 5(b) of the amending Regulations at Annex B provide for this.
Amendment to Poll Card
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In order to assist electors, it is proposed to print on the poll card the address of the polling station at which each elector should vote. The Urban Council Elections (Registration of Electors) (Amend- ment) Regulations 1972 at Annex C has been drafted for the purpose.
RESTRICTED