XN000022-1991-08-07 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1991

6

NAMES TO GO BACK ON ELECTORS REGISTER

AMENDING REGULATIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED TOMORROW (THURSDAY) WERE OMITTED PROVIDING FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF ELECTORS WHOSE NAMES

ΤΟ FAILURE FROM THE REGISTER FOR 1991 AS A RESULT OF

PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THEIR ADDRESSES.

THEIR

A

GOVERNMENT

SPOKESMAN SAID

TODAY

DECISION WAS TAKEN AFTER A REVIEW OF THE RESULTS UPDATE THE ELECTORAL REGISTER.

THAT (WEDNESDAY}

THE OF AN EXERCISE TO

EXISTING ELECTORAL

ΤΟ MARE

UNDER THE

PROVISIONS (REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS) REGULATIONS, THE REGISTRATION OFFICER IS EMPOWERED ENQUIRIES TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER AN ELECTOR HAS CHANGED HIS ADDRESS.

MONTH

AN ELECTOR WHO FAILS TO RESPOND TO AN ENQUIRY WITHIN ONE

PROVISIONAL WILL HAVE HIS NAME OMITTED FROM THE

REGISTER, WHICH IS OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION FOR

ΤΟ APPLY FOR THE

INCLUSION OF THEIR NAMES.

AFFECTED PERSONS

AS A RESULT OF AN UPDATING EXERCISE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN

WERE OMITTED FROM THE JANUARY AND MARCH, ABOUT 35,000 NAMES

FINAL THE ACCURACY OF REGISTER BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF INFORMATION ON

THE

ELECTORS' ADDRESSES.

UNDER THE EXISTING REGULATIONS, IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR NAMES TO BE ADDED TO THE FINAL REGISTER AFTER IT IS PUBLISHED.

VOTERS ABOUT 35,000 ELIGIBLE

ARE THUS DISENFRANCHISED AND, OF THEM NOTWITHSTANDING THE 10-YEAR RESIDENCE PERIOD, A LARGE NUMBER

THE ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY DISQUALIFIED FOR STANDING AS A CANDIDATE FOR SEPTEMBER ELECTION.

THAT

THE ALTHOUGH

OMISSIONS WERE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW AND IN GOOD FAITH, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES

BY THIS YEAR'S THE DEREGISTERED ELECTORS COULD HAVE BECOME CONFUSED

AND THE MAY ELECTORAL EVENTS AS THE MARCH DISTRICT BOARD

MUNICIPAL HELD ON THE BASIS OF THE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WERE

PREVIOUS FINAL REGISTER IN WHICH THEIR NAMES WERE STILL INCLUDED.

PART IN THESE

THEY WERE THUS NOTIFIED AS REGARDS TAKING ELECTIONS. ACCORDINGLY THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BOTHERED TO RESPOND TO

THE PROVISIONAL NOTICES OF ENQUIRY OR INSPECTED

REGISTER UPON

PUBLICATION.

TWO

THE ITS

NEXT MONTH'S SPECIAL DESERVED

OF THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE OMISSIONS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE POSITIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN REGARDING THE SITUATION.

/UNDER THE