FRIDAY, APRIL
1985
9
APPEAL TO REGISTER FOR LEGCO POLLS
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL DIRECT MORE APPEALS TO ELIGIBLE ELECTORS IN THE COMING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO URGE THEM TO REGISTER BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE OF MAY 6, 1985.
THE APPEALS INCLUDE RADIO AND TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST (API'S) AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS AFTER A ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON TODAY.
MR TSAO DREW ATTENTION TO THE SLOW RESPONSE IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, SUCH AS THE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL CONSTITUENCIES.
THERE COULD BE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THIS: ONE WAS THE TIME TAKEN BY SOME ORGANISATIONS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO DISTRIBUTE REGISTRATION FORMS TO THEIR MEMBERS. MR TSAO REITERATED HOWEVER THAT ELIGIBLE ELECTORS COULD COLLECT REGISTRATION FORMS FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE IN THEIR OWN TIME AND AT THEIR OWN CONVENIENCE.
HE NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATION FORMS RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WAS ENCOURAGING. BY THE END OF TODAY, 226 HAD SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATIONS.
ALTHOUGH ELIGIBLE ELECTORS COULD MAKE USE OF THE LATE REGISTRATION PERIOD TO SEND IN THEIR FORMS, MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT BY THEN, THERE WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS IF ERRORS WERE FOUND IN THEIR APPLICATIONS.
+THE OUTCOME OF THIS REGISTRATION EXERCISE IS ANYBODY'S GUESS AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SEATS ARE FILLED BY ELECTION, MR TSAO SAID.
BUT THE RESPONSE OF THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG IS REVIEWED IN 1987, HE SAID.
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