TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1982
PEOPLE URGED TO STAND FOR ELECTION
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WITH NOMINATIONS OPENING IN JUST TEN DAYS, AN APPEAL WAS MADE TODAY (TUESDAY) FOR PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD TO STAND AS CANDIDATES FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN MARCH.
THE NOMINATION PERIOD WILL LAST THREE WEEKS, STARTING ON JANUARY 15 AND CLOSING ON FEBRUARY 9. ELECTION DAY IS THURSDAY, MARCH 4.
MAKING THE APPEAL AT A LIONS CLUB OF MOUNT CAMERON LUNCH MEETING WAS PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MRS REGINA IP, WHO SAID GOVERNMENT WELCOMED PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO BECOME DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AS LONG AS THEY WERE GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THEIR DISTRICT, OUTSPOKEN, AND COULD OFFER CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS ON DISTRICT REFORM.
SHE URGED THOSE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN BECOMING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS NOT TO MISS THE CHANCE,
SHE SAID A CANDIDATE HAD TO BE NOMINATED BY TEN REGISTERED ELECTORS, INCLUDING A PROPOSER AND A SECONDER, IN THE CONSTITUENCY FOR WHICH HE OR SHE SOUGHT ELECTION, AND A DEPOSIT OF $1 000 WAS REQUIRED.
DETAILS OF CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN LAID DOWN IN THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE.
+IN BRIEF,+ SAID MRS IP, +CANDIDATES CAN PROMOTE THEMSELVES THROUGH TELEVISION, RADIO, PAMPHLETS, POSTERS AND GATHERINGS, BUT EXPENSES ON CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITIES CAN NOT EXCEED $10 000.+
EACH CANDIDATE COULD ALSO EMPLOY ONE PERSON TO ACT AS HIS
AGENT.
THE FEE PAYABLE TO AN AGENT COULD NOT EXCEED $3 000 WHICH WOULD NOT BE COUNTED AS PART OF CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.
SHE SAID THE PROPOSED CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WHICH WOULD BE GIVEN ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), WOULD SEEK TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON CANDIDATES FROM PAYING TO TRANSPORT VOTERS TO POLLING STATIONS BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY REMOTE VILLAGES NOT SERVED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
IF THE BILL WAS PASSED, THEN CANDIDATES OR THEIR AGENTS COULD HIRE TRANSPORT TO TAKE VOTERS TO AND FROM POLLING STATIONS. BUT HIRE CHARGES WOULD BE COUNTED AS PART OF CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.
/DURING THE