XN000022-1990-12-12 — Page 19

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REMOVE THEIR

ALL THE CONCERNED PARTIES WILL BE ASKED то PUBLICITY MATERIALS IN THE PRIME SPOTS BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER. THE REMAINING MATERIALS WILL BE CLEARED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY.

"THIS WOULD ELIMINATE ANY UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OWNERS OF EXISTING DISPLAYS MAY HAVE, MR TANG SAID.

"

DURING THE NOMINATION PERIOD BETWEEN JANUARY 7 AND 21, NO ELECTIONEERING MATERIALS ARE то BE DISPLAYED IN THE KEY SPOTS IDENTIFIED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICES.

AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE NOMINATION, EACH RETURNING OFFICER, IN THIS CASE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, WILL CONVENE A MEETING TO SEE IF CANDIDATES CAN AGREE AMONG THEMSELVES ON THE NUMBER OF BANNERS AND THEIR DISPLAY LOCATIONS.

"IF THEY FAIL TO REACH AN AGREEMENT, SOME FORMAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE TO BE INSTITUTED ΤΟ ALLOCATE KEY SPOTS TO BE SHARED BY CANDIDATES ON AN EQUITABLE BASIS.

"THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE FAIREST METHOD, WITHOUT PUTTING TOO MUCH RESTRAINTS ON ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES, MR TANG SAID.

ANY CANDIDATE OR HIS CAMPAIGN AGENTS WHO PUT UP UNAUTHORISED PUBLICITY MATERIALS MAY BE LIABLE TO A FINE AS WELL AS PAYMENT OF THE REMOVAL COST. HE SAID THE REMOVAL COST MIGHT BR ADDED INTO THE CANDIDATE'S ELECTION EXPENSE.

IF SO, MR TANG SAID, CANDIDATES WOULD HAVE ΤΟ BE CAREFUL IN KEEPING THEIR CAMPAIGNS WITHIN ELECTION EXPENDITURE LIMITS.

HE ADMITTED THAT THE NEW INITIATIVE MIGHT NOT ELIMINATE ALL ELECTION-RELATED DISPUTES.

"BUT WITHOUT THIS RUDIMENTARY SYSTEM OF ALLOCATION, THERE MAY EVEN BE MORE DISPUTES," HE EXPLAINED.

TO FURTHER ENSURE THAT ALL CANDIDATES COULD COMPETE ON A FAIR BASIS, MR TANG SAID, A REVIEW ON THE CEILING OF ELECTION EXPENSE HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED.

THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT A CANDIDATE CAN SPEND IN HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN NEXT YEAR'S DIRECT ELECTIONS WILL RANGE FROM $30,000 FOR DISTRICT BOARDS TO $200,000 FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

JUST

WERE

HE NOTED THAT THE LATEST VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN HAD ENDED WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS. ABOUT 295,000 NEW ELECTORS REGISTERED AND THE FIGURE COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH ANYONE IN ALL PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MOUNT ANOTHER CAMPAIGN TO URGE PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS EARLY NEXT YEAR. SUBJECT TO APPROVAL, THE ELECTION PUBLICITY FUND WOULD BE ABOUT $18 MILLION.

/"FOR THE