26 #
Question:
- 61
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In the Legislative Council elections held on 17 September 1995, some members of the public complained that their names had been removed from the register of electors without prior notification. Discrepancies between the voter turnout figure and the number of votes cast as well as miscalculation in the votes cast also occurred in the process of votes counting. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the causes of the above mentioned incidents; and
(b) how it can ensure that the results of the elections have not been affected by such incidents? Reply:
Mr President.
The Legislative Council elections held on 17 September 1995 were a great success all round. The electoral arrangements were open and fair, and a record number of electors took part in the elections. Overall, the elections were conducted smoothly and in an orderly manner.
The incidents mentioned in the question relate to:
(a) some people having been unable to vote because their names were not found
in the register of electors;
(b) discrepancies which had been identified during the process of vote counting, i.e. those between the summary ballot paper accounts and the actual number of ballot papers found inside the ballot boxes; and (c) a miscalculation in the number of votes counted in the process of votes counting.
Regarding (a), immediately following the elections, the independent Boundary and Election Commission conducted a thorough investigation into these incidents. The investigation in respect of the New Territories North-west and New Territories North constituencies, where two candidates involved also voiced criticism, has been completed. According to the Commission's findings announced on 12 October 1995, out of the reported cases in the two constituencies, about 30 - 40% are former electors whose names had been deleted from the register of electors as a result of the annual vetting exercise. The rest are either electors who are still on the register but had gone to the wrong polling stations, or persons who have never been registered as electors.