- 85 -
Reply:
Under the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance (Cap. 288), expenses incurred or to be incurred before, during or after an election, by a candidate or by any other person on the candidate's behalf, on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of the election, or for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of that candidate at that election are election expenses. Expenses incurred by political groups in a community function and in activities promoting that function would not be regarded as election expenses unless that function and related activities are used to promote or procure the election of a candidate or candidates in an election.
It is Government policy that the AMS, like any other Government departments, should not participate or assist in any election-related campaign activities in support of any candidate.
As part of its public service programme, the AMS provides first-aid and health- check services to the public in response to requests of local community organisations. About 1,500 such functions are carried out each year by the AMS. In the case referred to in Kwun Tong, two health- check days were held by a local resident organisation in February this year. The AMS participated in these functions as they fell under the ambits of its public service programme. The Boundary and Election Commission has not received any complaint that these functions and related activities were election- related campaign activities.
End/Wednesday, March 29, 1995
Assistance to operators and residents of aged homes
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Lam Kui-chun and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
The Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance provides for the control of residential care homes for elderly persons and sets out the space requirements and staffing ratio for operating these homes. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: