FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1994
MR PANG SAID THE BILL WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE MILLION EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS AND ALSO FOR PEOPLE PURCHASING PROPERTY.
FOR ABOUT 1.6 INTERESTED IN
AVAILABLE AND DISTRICT
AN INFORMATION LEAFLET ABOUT THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD BE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT ALL LAND REGISTRY OFFICES
TO
OFFICES.
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CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT}
(NO. 2) BILL 1994 GAZETTED
THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1994 WHICH SEEKS TO EXTEND THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE (CIPO) TO RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
GOVERNOR-IN-
APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN BY THE COUNCIL FOR AN ELECTION EXPENSES ORDER ON RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS TO BE MADE LATER, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE EXTENSION OF THE ORDINANCE TO COVER THE ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF THE RURAL COMMITTEES IS IN LINE WITH THE SPIRIT OF ENSURING FAIR AND OPEN ELECTIONS.
"THIS IS DESIRABLE BECAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL LINKS BETWEEN RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS AND THE THREE-TIER REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, HE SAID.
THE
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UNDER THE BILL, THE GENERAL OFFENCE PROVISIONS. OF BRIBERY, PERSONATION, TREATING, ELECTION PUBLICITY AND OFFENCES IN RELATION TO NOMINATION AND BALLOT PAPER UNDER CIPO WILL BE EXTENDED ΤΟ RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.
SOME ELECTION FEATURES UNDER CIPO THAT DO NOT EXIST UNDER THE RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS AT PRESENT WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED
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"ONE OF THESE FEATURES IS THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELECTION EXPENSES CEILING OF $10,000 TO RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS -
LIMIT WHICH IS THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE HEUNG YEE KUK, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FURTHERMORE, CANDIDATES OF A RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTION WILL BE ALLOWED TO APPOINT AUTHORISED PERSONS TO INCUR ELECTION EXPENSES ON THEIR BEHALF AFTER THEY SUBMIT A REQUIRED NOTIFICATION ON THE APPOINTMENT TO THE RETURNING OFFICER.
THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO FILE A RETURN ON ELECTION EXPENSES AND DONATIONS TO THE RETURNING OFFICER WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE RELEVANT ELECTION.
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT A FEW PROVISIONS RELATING
TO THE MECHANISM OF ELECTION PETITION UNDER CIPO WOULD NOT BE EXTENDED TO RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS FOR THE TIME BEING.
/THE MECHANISM,
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