XN000022-1995-02-17 — Page 5

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Boundary and Election Commission issues censure

The Boundary and Election Commission (BEC) today (Friday) issued a public censure against the Rev Fung Chi-wood for conducting unauthorised electioneering activities in respect of Regional Council election.

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The BEC Chairman, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, said the Rev Fung had violated the BEC guidelines and obtained an unfair advantage over the other candidate in Tai Po West Constituency.

"The conduct of his electioneering activities in Kwong Fuk Estate in breach of the BEC Guidelines and without approval from the Housing Department has created an unfair advantage for himself and a corresponding disadvantage to his election opponent who has followed the BEC Guidelines relating to his intended electioneering activities in Kwong Fuk Estate," the chairman said.

BEC received complaints that the Rev Fung had conducted electioneering activities in the estate on January 24, 25, 26 and 29 without the requisite approval of the Housing Department.

It is stipulated in the BEC Guidelines that candidates must obtain prior approval from the Housing Manager before conducting any electioneering activities inside such a housing estate, and that an application for approval should be made at least two working days before the time of any intended activity.

The Rey Fung made two applications in the late afternoon of January 24, one for conducting home visits in the estate in the evenings of January 24 and 25, and the other for doing the same on January 26. The applications were refused on the same day by the Housing Manager on grounds of insufficient notice being given.

On January 26, he made an application for distributing leaflets and conducting a signatory.campaign on January 29 at the podium and ground floor of the estate's commercial complex. This application was also refused on the same day by the Housing Manager on grounds of insufficient notice being given.

Despite the fact that his applications had not been approved, local residents saw the Rev Fung and his supporters conducting home visits in Kwong Wai House of Kwong Fuk Estate in the evening of January 24, and in Kwong Lai House in the evening of January 25.

They were also found conducting a signatory campaign at the entrance to the estate's market at 12.50 pm on January 29.