XN000022-1991-01-03 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1991

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NOMINATIONS FOR DB ELECTIONS TO START NEXT WEEK

NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE 1991 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN JANUARY 7 AND 21, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

ANNOUNCING THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS, HE SAID: "SUBJECT ΤΟ CERTAIN SPECIFIED DISQUALIFICATIONS, ANY REGISTERED ELECTOR WHO HAS ORDINARILY RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS CAN BE NOMINATED AS A CANDIDATE.

"A CANDIDATE MAY STAND FOR ELECTION IN ANY CONSTITUENCY, BUT MUST BE NOMINATED BY A TOTAL OF 10 ELECTORS WHO ARE REGISTERED FOR THE CONSTITUENCY CONCERNED.

"HE WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE A CONSENT FORM AND HAND IN HIS NOMINATION PAPERS FOR VALIDATION BY THE RETURNING OFFICER WHO IS THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF THE DISTRICT CONcerned.

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MR TSAO SAID THE LEVEL OF ELECTION DEPOSIT FOR DB ELECTIONS HAD BEEN INCREASED FROM $2,000 TO $3,000.

"A CANDIDATE WILL HOWEVER BE ENTITLED ΤΟ A REFUND IF HE SECURES NOT LESS THAN FIVE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALID VOTES CAST IN THE CONSTITUENCY CONCERNED.'

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HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LIMIT OF ELECTION EXPENSES HAD ALSO BEEN INCREASED BY 50 PER CENT TO $30,000.

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ON OVERALL NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS OF THE FOR 1991-94, HE SAID THE FIGURE WOULD INCREASE BY 10 FROM 264 TO 274 DUE TO POPULATION CHANGES.

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THE EIGHT DISTRICTS WHICH WILL BE GIVEN MORE ELECTED SEATS EASTERN (2), ISLANDS (1), KWAI TSING (2), SAI KUNG (2), SHA TIN TAI PO (2), TSUEN WAN (1), TUEN MUN (1) AND THE TWO URBAN DISTRICTS THAT HAVE LESS SEATS ARE SOUTHERN (-1) AND WONG TAI SIN (-2).

TURNING TO PUBLICITY, MR TSAO SAID A CAMPAIGN WOULD BE MOUNTED TO PROMOTE THE NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES AND THE ELECTIONS, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTION OF POSTERS AND API'S (ANNOUNCEMENTS IN PUBLIC

INTEREST).

"THE DISTRICT OFFICES WILL ALSO ORGANISE THEIR OWN PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ELECTION FORUMS, BUS PARADES AND EXHIBITIONS ON THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, HE ADDED.

THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE IS NOW BUSY RECRUITING POLLING AND COUNTING STAFF AND MAKING THE NECESSARY LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SETTING UP OF POLLING STATIONS.

IT IS PLANNED THAT ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE WILL BE MOBILISED TO MAN THE 356 POLLING STATIONS ON ELECTION DAY TERRITORY-WIDE.

/"THE WHOLE