FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1994
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BEC SEEKS VIEWS ON ELECTION GUIDELINES
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THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED ITS PROPOSED GUIDELINES ON ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
THE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, MR JUSTICE WOO KWOK-HING, SAID AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THE GUIDELINES WERE AIMED AT ENSURING THAT ELECTIONS WOULD BE CONDUCTED OPENLY, FAIRLY AND HONESTLY.
16).
THE ONE-MONTH PUBLIC CONSULTATION WILL START NEXT MONDAY (MAY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR VIEWS AND COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES TO THE COMMISSION BEFORE JUNE 16.
THE COMMISSION WILL ALSO MEET, BY APPOINTMENT, INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS TO LISTEN TO THEIR VIEWS DURING THE WEEK FROM MAY 30 TO JUNE 5.
THE 16-CHAPTER PROPOSED GUIDELINES EXPLAIN IN DETAIL THE ELECTORAL PROCEDURE, THE REGULATIONS WHICH CANDIDATES AND THEIR AGENTS SHOULD OBSERVE AND THE AREAS TO WHICH THEY SHOULD PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION.
THE
MR JUSTICE WOO SAID, IN DRAWING UP ITS DRAFT GUIDELINES, COMMISSION HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE PUBLIC VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE PAST REGARDING THE ELECTORAL PROCEDURES.
THE MAIN FEATURES COVERED BY THE GUIDELINES INCLUDE:
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A CANDIDATE WILL
SIMPLIFIED PAYMENT OF ELECTION DEPOSIT BE ABLE TO PAY HIS ELECTION DEPOSIT, IN CASH OR BY CHEQUE, AT THE SAME TIME WHEN HE SUBMITS HIS NOMINATION FORM TO THE RETURNING OFFICER. PREVIOUSLY, A CANDIDATE HAD TO PAY THEIR DEPOSIT AT THE TREASURY, AND THEN PRESENTED THE RECEIPT TOGETHER WITH THE NOMINATION FORM TO THE RETURNING OFFICER.
TIGHTENED CONTROL OF THE DISPLAY AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTION ADVERTISEMENTS CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TO SERIAL NUMBER ALL THEIR ELECTION ADVERTISEMENTS AND SUBMIT DECLARATIONS ON SUCH ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE RETURNING OFFICER BEFORE DISPLAY OR DISTRIBUTION, STATING THE QUANTITIES, LOCATIONS OF DISPLAY AND SO ON, THEY HAVE TO FILE TWO COPIES OR TWO PHOTOS OF EACH TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENTS FOR RECORD. ANY ELECTION ADVERTISEMENTS DISPLAYED NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS WILL BE REMOVED AND SEIZED BY THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. THE CANDIDATE OR ELECTION AGENT SO RESPONSIBLE MAY ALSO BE LIABLE TO A FINE OR IMPRISONMENT.
THEIR
AN APPEAL TO OWNERS AND TENANTS OF PRIVATE PREMISES TO ACCORD ALL CANDIDATES WITH EQUAL AND FAIR ACCESS INTO BUILDINGS FOR ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES.
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