XN000022-1991-05-23 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1991

GOVT IMPARTIALITY IN ELECTION VITAL

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THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE IMPARTIAL AND SEEN TO BE IMPARTIAL IN DEALING WITH ALL POLITICAL GROUPS AND CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTION, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR SUEN SAID IN THE HONG KONG CONTEXT, GOVERNMENT IMPARTIALITY WAS ALSO A MATTER OF NECESSITY. ANY COMPROMISE IN THIS REGARD WOULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S CREDIBILITY AS A NON-PARTISAN ADMINISTRATION.

"THIS WOULD UNDERMINE THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND, IN TURN, THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO THE DIFFERENT TIERS OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM, MR SUEN SAID, WHEN ADDRESSING THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF THE 1991 OFFICE BEARERS OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF KOWLOON.

HE SAID ANY

UNWARRANTED INVOLVEMENT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS WOULD ONLY PUT GOVERNMENT IMPARTIALITY AT RISK.

HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE CONTRARY VIEWS BEING EXPRESSED FROM TIME TO TIME, SUCH AS THE SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGULATE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF POLITICAL GROUPS BY IMPOSING SOME KIND OF CONTROL ON CANDIDATES' PLEDGES AND THE SUBSTANCE AND STYLE OF THEIR CAMPAIGN PLATFORM TO ENSURE THAT THE ELECTORATE WOULD NOT BE MISLED BY EMPTY OR IRRELEVANT PROMISES.

"IF WE FOLLOW THIS LINE OF ARGUMENT TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION, WE WILL REALISE THAT IT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SUGGESTION WHICH COULD SET A MOST UNDESIRABLE PRECEDENT FOR UNNECESSARY GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION," HE SAID.

"THE ISSUE IN QUESTION IS REALLY WHETHER WE BELIEVE THAT THE ULTIMATE JUDGE OF POLITICAL GROUPS AND ELECTION CANDIDATES IS THE ELECTORATE, WHO EXERCISES THEIR COLLECTIVE JUDGEMENT THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX.

"OR ARE WE TO SAY THAT WE HARBOUR DOUBTS ABOUT THE DISCERNING POWER AND COMMON SENSE OF THE ORDINARY VOTER TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON WHAT POLITICAL GROUPS AND CANDIDATES SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO OR SAY TO THE ELECTORATE.

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MR SUEN SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT IN THE POLITICAL MATURITY OF THE ELECTORATE AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE BALLOT BOX.

ON THE QUESTION OF WHAT ROLE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PLAY IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, HE SAID THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE GOVERNMENT HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ELECTIONS ΤΟ THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WERE OPEN, FREE AND FAIR.

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