XN000022-1987-01-07 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987

IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE REGISTRATION PERIOD COVERED THE WHOLE YEAR, SHE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH APPROPRIATE PUBLICITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO THAT PEOPLE WERE REMINDED THAT THEY COULD REGISTER AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER LAUNCHING PUBLICITY ON COMPANY, ORGANISATION OR FAMILY BASIS SO AS TO INSTIL A COLLECTIVE DESIRE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE SAME COMPANY OR FAMILY TO BECOME REGISTERED.

MRS TAM STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC EDUCATION, SAYING THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STEP UP PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS TO ENABLE YOUNGSTERS TO BE FULLY AWARE OF THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE IMPORTANCE TO VOTE SO THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO REGISTER AS SOON AS THEY REACHED 21.

LASTLY, MRS TAM SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER PUTTING REGISTRATION FORMS IN PLACES FREQUENTED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS BANKS, TO MAKE THEM MORE READILY AVAILABLE.

ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE REGULATIONS, DR THE HON CONRAD LAM SAID THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY MAKE IT VERY CONVENIENT FOR ELIGIBLE PERSONS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS ON ANY WORKING DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

DR LAM NOTED THAT FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, THE POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WAS NOW REFLECTED IN THE VOTERS' REGISTRATION NUMBER, WHICH WAS ESTIMATED AT 1 441 540.

+REGRETTABLY, THE EXISTING AMENDMENT MAKES NO PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE STATUTORY ELECTORAL AGE FROM THE PRESENT AGE OF 21 TO 18,

AND THIS IS A BLEMISH IN THE OTHERWISE PERFECT AMENDMENT,+ HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE LOWERING OF THE VOTING AGE WOULD FACILITATE THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND WOULD ALSO HELP FOSTER A STRONGER SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

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