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163762 MDHIAN 9709
Q3. DOES IT MEAN THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE OF 31 DECEMBER 1993 WAS A
WRONG DECISION?
A3. NO. THE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION DATE OF 31 DECEMBER 1993 WAS SET HAVING FULL REGARD TO THE NEED TO COMPLETE ALL STATUTORY REQUIREMENT SO THAT THE STATUTORY VOTER REGISTRATION CAN TAKE PLACE IN TIME, LEADING UP TO THE DB AND MC ELECTIONS IN 1994/95. THE NEW DATE OF 30 APRIL 1994 IS TO ENABLE THE COMMISSION TO AWAIT DECISIONS AND, IF NECESSARY, NEW LEGISLATION ON THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MC SEATS BEFORE WORKING ON ITS RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS RESPECT.
Q4. IF THE BEC IS TO SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS ON MC CONSTITUENCY
BOUNDARIES JUST BEFORE 30 APRIL 1994, WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO SHOW MC CONSTITUENCIES IN THE PROVISIONAL VOTER REGISTER TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE 22 JUNE 1994?
.
A4. NO IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE PROVISIONAL VOTER
REGISTER TO SHOW THE MC CONSTITUENCIES. IF THE PROPOSED EXTENSION IS PASSED BY LEGCO, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO AMEND THE RELEVANT REGULATIONS (I.E. ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS) REGULATIONS) IN DUE COURSE SO AS TO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT TO SHOW MC CONSTITUENCIES IN THE 1994 PROVISIONAL VOTER REGISTER.
Q5. IS THE ADMINISTRATION INTERFERING WITH THE WORK OF THE BEC?
A5. CERTAINLY NOT. WE ARE SIMPLY DOING WHAT WE CAN TO ENABLE THE
BEC TO AVOID ABORTIVE WORK.
Q6. WHAT IF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT IS NOT PASSED IN
TIME (SAY BY END NOVEMBER) ?
A.6.
I AM SURE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS ARE AL VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE URGENCY OF THE MATTER AND WILL GIVE APPROPRIATE ATTENTION TO THE BILL.
ENDS
PATTEN
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