MR. ANDREW WONG: Sir, I am afraid I do not agree to what
Mr.
Desmond LEE and what Mr. Martin LEE said earlier on
regarding the haste in which the
Corrupt and Illegal
Practices (Amendment) Bill 1987 is introduced and on the
-
In the Green Paper,
issue of adequate consultation.
mention was made of using the names of other people or
other organisations in election campaigns. Before the
publication of the Green Paper on the Review of
Developments in Representative Government, we also reviewed
the Regional Council and Urban Council elections in 1986
and there were 14 submissions three of which mentioned
about name-dropping. After the publication of the Green
Paper and during the public consultation period, there
were 34 submissions, representing some 51 people,
mentioning about name-dropping. And as district board
elections will be publicised on 5 January 1988 and
nominations accepted on 8 January, it is time we consider
some of the known problems in election
Regarding the Corrupt and Illegal
Practices
campaigns.
(Amendment)
Bill 1987, I have some preliminary views which should be
considered carefully, even after the passage of this Bill
and during the White Paper stage.
I have some reservations on the effectiveness of
amendments. Firstly, no name-dropping is
allowed unless prior written assent is obtained, during
the present
7
cocktail parties or verbal exchange and secondly,
in letters, pamphlets,
name-dropping is also disallowed
publicity
literature.
People
must
not
mislead