TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1990
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HIGHER LIMITS FOR ELECTION EXPENSES
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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE ELECTION EXPENSES LIMIT FOR THE 1991 DIRECT ELECTIONS ΤΟ THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE SET AT $200,000.
"THE LIMIT, HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY REFERENCE TO THE BASIC ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE FOR AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT OF ELECTION AGENTS, TRAVELLING EXPENSES, MEALS FOR HELPERS, PRINTING OF PUBLICITY MATERIAL, AND PRODUCTION OF BANNERS, PLACARDS AND POSTERS, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
RATE
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"THE LIMIT FOLLOWS THE EXISTING APPROACH OF PRESCRIBING A FLAT FOR EACH TYPE OF ELECTION AND HAS TAKEN ACCOUNT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LARGER CONSTITUENCIES.
"THE NEED TO MAINTAIN RELATIVITY BETWEEN EXPENDITURE LEVELS FOR ELECTIONS TO THE DIFFERENT TIERS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT."
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ALSO INCREASED THE LIMIT ON ELECTORAL EXPENSES FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES FROM $36,000 TO $50,000, FOR DISTRICT BOARDS FROM $20,000 TO $30,000 AND FOR MUNICIPAL COUNCILS FROM $43,000 TO $70,000. A NEW LIMIT FOR THE ELECTION OF DISTRICT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IS SET AT $6,000.
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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING SUCH LIMITS WAS ENSURE THAT CANDIDATES WITH AMPLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES WOULD NOT HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER CANDIDATES.
"HOWEVER, IN SETTING LIMITS, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO AVOID IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES, HE POINTED OUT.
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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ALSO DECIDED THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THREE TIERS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELD ON
THE SUNDAYS.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS AT THE GRASSROOT LEVEL IN 1982 THE OVERALL VOTER TURNOUT RATE FOR DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 40 PER CENT.
"NEXT YEAR WILL BE A MILESTONE IN HONG KONG'S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT AS DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
"THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE ELECTIONS AND BELIEVES THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHICH CONVENES IN OCTOBER 1991, WILL PROVIDE A FIRM FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO BASE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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