XN000022-1981-12-24 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1981

FURTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISTRICT BOARD EL

*****

FURTHER ARRANGEMENTS TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR DISTRICT BOAR.. ELECTIONS ARE PROPOSED IN TWO SETS OF DRAFT LEGISLATION IN THE GAZETTE TODAY,

UNDER THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, CANDIDATES AND ELECTION AGENTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN FUTURE TO USE HIRED VEHICLES OR PAY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF ELECTORS TO OR FROM THE POLL.

THIS WILL ENCOURAGE MORE ELECTORS TO TURN OUT IN THE REMOTER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WHERE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS INADEQUATE.

EXPENDITURE ON SUCH TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS WILL HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR BY A CANDIDATE AND WILL COUNT TOWARDS HIS ELECTION EXPENSES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO A LIMIT OF $10 000.

THE OTHER DRAFT LEGISLATION PUBLISHED TODAY IS THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BORADS (ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS OF MEMBERS) (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BİLL 1982. THIS BILL ALLOWS A PERSON LIVING IN THE URBAN AREAS TO BE APPOINTED TO A NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD IN APRIL NEXT YEAR, PROVIDED HE HAS APPLIED AND IS QUALIFIED TO BE AN ELECTOR, EVEN THOUGH HIS NAME IS NOT ON THE FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTOR TO BE PUBLISHED IN MID-JANUARY 1982.

THE ARRANGEMENT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OWING TO SHORTAGE OF TIME, THIS FINAL REGISTER WILL ONLY CONTAIN THE NAMES OF THOSE ELECTORS LIVING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE BILL FURTHER REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT UNDER EXISTING LAW FOR A REGISTRATION EXERCISE TO BE CARRIED OUT NEXT FEBRUARY FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

THIS IS BECAUSE ELECTIONS PROVISIONS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE WILL BE SUPERCEDED BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE 1981, AND RESIDENTS IN THE URBAN AREAS WHO REGISTER UNDER THE NEW ELÉCTORAL SYSTEM WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT BOTH DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN THE URBAN AREAS AND URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

AS IN

THE BILL ALSO AMENDS THE LEGAL AID ORDINANCE SO THAT URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS, LEGAL AID WILL NOT EXTEND TO DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION PETITIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE IS AMENDED TO EXTEND THE DISQUALIFICATION PERIOD OF THOSE OFFENDERS WHO SEEK ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO CERTAIN PUBLIC BODIES, FROM SEVEN TO 10 YEARS. THIS 10-YEAR DISQUALIFICATION PERIOD ALREADY APPLIES TO CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT BOARDS OR THE URBAN COUNCIL.

/2