9
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1994
BEC PUBLISHES REVISED ELECTION GUIDELINES FOR CONSULTATION
THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) HAS PUBLISHED THE PROPOSED REVISION OF THE GUIDELINES ON ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION STARTING
TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE CONSULTATION PERIOD WILL LAST UNTIL NOVEMBER 30 SO AS TO ENABLE THE BEC TO FINALISE THE REVISED GUIDELINES FOR PUBLICATION BY MID-DECEMBER, FOR THE REFERENCE OF THE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL (MC) ELECTIONS.
THE ELECTION PERIOD OF THE MC ELECTIONS STARTS ON JANUARY 9 NEXT YEAR.
BEC
HAD ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS POLITICAL GATHERED
THE BEC CHAIRMAN, MR JUSTICE WOO KWOK-HING, SAID THE REVIEWED VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCEDURE AND THE GUIDELINES IN THE LIGHT OF COMMENTS, VIEWS, CRITICISMS AND RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC, ELECTORS, CANDIDATES, ORGANISATIONS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS AND FROM THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE COURSE OF THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 18.
HE SAID WHERE IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE INTRODUCED IN TIME FOR THE MC ELECTIONS, THESE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED REVISED GUIDELINES NOW PUT FORWARD FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE OTHER MORE INVOLVED ISSUES REQUIRING DETAILED CONSIDERATION WHICH WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BEC REPORT ON THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN MID- DECEMBER.
"THE
I
CHAIRMAN
GUIDELINES WERE REVISED TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE ELECTIONS WOULD BE CONDUCTED MORE OPENLY, FAIRLY AND HONESTLY, THE SAID.
THE REVISIONS MAINLY INCLUDE:
(1) NOMINATION
AN
INTENDED
* THE SPECIFIED NOMINATION FORM WOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATE TO STATE HIS OCCUPATION AND ALLOW HIM TO STATE HIS POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
* ANY NOMINATION PAPER ON WHICH THE NAME OR ANY DETAIL OF THE CANDIDATE HAS BEEN AMENDED OR CORRECTED WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS ALL OR A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS HAVE SIGNED AGAINST EACH CORRECTION.
* CANDIDATE'S PHOTOGRAPH MUST BE TAKEN NOT LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS BEFORE SUBMISSION.
*
THE TIME FOR ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS AMONG ALL RETURNING OFFICERS.
WOULD BE STANDARDISED
/(2)
CANDIDATES' AGENTS