2
bercint
elected elements into the Urban Council. In the Legislative Council, our views on the White Paper are also diversified, and I believe that quite a number of my colleagues are opposed to some items contained in that document. As for the general public, the pistrict Board elections held last week recorded a voter turnout rate of only 30 a significant drop of about
per cent one fifth of voters, compared with the 37% attained in 1985. In other words, one in every five voters who cast their votes in 1985 has shunned elections this year. On the day following the elections, some citizens telephoned a radio station to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the political review as well as the contents of the White Paper. They said they had decided to boycott the District Board elections for this very reason. Although this kind of boycott may not be the
it sole reason that accounts for the drop in the turnout rate, should not be taken lightly. The government should do some soul-searching and make every effort to win back the support of
the people.
The drop of the turnout rate reflects that the public have lost faith in the Government, on the other hand, it also weakens the rationality and objectiveness of the election results. At certain polling stations, some candidates were
assisted by a large cortege of campaigners. In some cases, hundreds of people were mobilized to canvass votes for a certain candidate. As the overall turnout rate was low, the 'escorting technique employed by the campaigners to canvass votes might be very effective. If voters of a higher educational standard stayed away from voting, whereas those who did not have a strong will were huddled into polling stations by the enthusiastic campaign helpers, some votes might be cast in a not too rational manner which might eventually determine the outcome of the polls. I think democracy must be complemented by rational choices, so I propose that publicity and lobbying activities should be banned at the polling stations on the day of voting, and that only the candidate himself or one representative should be permitted to show up so
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Cap.