XN000022-1991-01-23 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1991-

BILLS ON ELECTION PRACTICES

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SPOKE ON THREE AMENDMENT BILLS THAT DEALT WITH ELECTION PRACTICES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, MR MATHEWS SAID THE OBJECTS OF THE BILL WERE THREE-FOLD.

FIRST, IT WAS TO AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE

SO AS TO EXTEND THE PROVISIONS THAT RELATED TO THE DECLARATION OF ELECTION EXPENSES, ΤΟ COVER ALSO DECLARATIONS OF DONATIONS RECEIVED TOWARDS THOSE EXPENSES.

SECONDLY, IT WAS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF UNSPENT OR EXCESS DONATIONS.

THIRDLY, IT WAS TO ENABLE INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE THREE TIERS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TO DECLARE THE DONATIONS WHICH THEY HAD RECEIVED IN ADVANCE OF AN ELECTION.

MR MATHEWS SAID THE EVOLUTION OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, MARKED BY THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS, SHOULD INEVITABLY CALL FOR CHANGE IN SOME OF THE ELECTION PRACTICES.

CANDIDATES WOULD INCREASINGLY BE DEPENDENT ON FUNDING, KITHER FROM INDIVIDUALS OR POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS, TO FINANCE THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

THERE WAS A NEED FOR APPROPRIATE MEASURES ΤΟ ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, AND TO ENSURE THAT DONATIONS FOR ELECTIONS WERE FULLY AND PUBLICLY ACCOUNTED FOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.

HE SAID THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE DONORS OF THEIR ELECTION EXPENSES AS WELL AS TO THEIR ELECTORATE AS REGARDS THE SOURCES AND DISPOSAL OF THEIR ELECTION FUNDS.

THE

"CANDIDATES ARE PRESENTLY REQUIRED, UNDER SECTION 29 OF CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE, TO DECLARE THEIR ELECTION EXPENSES, AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT CONSTITUTES AN OFFENCE.

UNDER SECTION 29A SUCH RETURNS ARE OPEN ΤΟ PUBLIC INSPECTION.

"FAILURE TO DECLARE THE SOURCE OF ELECTION EXPENSES WILL BE MADE AN OFFENCE WITH ATTENDANT PENALTIES AND DISQUALIFICATIONS. THESE ARE PROVIDED FOR IN CLAUSES 7(A), 7(B) AND 8 OF THE BILL," HE SAID.

ON DISPOSAL OF UNSPENT OR EXCESS DONATIONS, MR MATHEWS POINTED OUT THAT SECTION 8B OF THE ORDINANCE PROVIDED THAT NO CANDIDATE OR ELECTION AGENT, AND NO PERSON ON BEHALF OF A CANDIDATE, SHOULD USE MONEY RECEIVED FOR ELECTION EXPENSES FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.

/"QUESTIONS COULD

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