XN000022-1985-07-05 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1985

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LIMITS SET FOR LEGCO ELECTION EXPENSES

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) GAZETTED AN ORDER SETTING CEILINGS FOR EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION EXPENSES ORDER 1985 SETS AN ELECTION EXPENSE LIMIT OF $10 000 FOR A CANDIDATE NOMINATED IN AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCY.

IN THE CASE O ́ A CANDIDATE NOMINATED IN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, THE LIMIT IS $30 000,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE LIMIT WHICH APPLIED TO A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY WAS $10 000 HIGHER THAN THE CEILING FOR DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES.

HE EXPLAINED +TPIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES COVER A VERY MUCH LARGER GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, WITH SOME CASES A WIDELY DISPERSED ELECTORATE.

+CONSEQUENTLY, THEY CAN BE EXPECTED TO CALL FOR EXTENSIVE TRAVELLING BY CANDIDATES TO ADDRESS SMALL SCATTERED POCKETS OF CONSTITUENTS.+

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CEILING OF $10 000 IN THE CASE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES HAD BEEN SET FOR PRECISELY THE OPPOSITE REASONS.

+THE ELECTORATE IN THESE CONSTITUENCIES, EXPLAINED THE SPOKESMAN, IS VERY LIMITED IN NUMBERS AND IS ALSO HIGHLY CONCENTRATED.+

STOPOVER BY SHULTZ

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THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE, MR GEORGE SHULTZ, WILL STOP OVER IN HONG KONG BETWEEN JULY 6 AND 8.

MR SHULTZ IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG BY A SPECIAL FLIGHT ABOUT 4.30 PM ON SATURDAY (JULY 6). HE WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON MONDAY (JULY 8) MORNING.

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