XN000022-1995-03-29 — Page 108

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Election-related campaign activities

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The following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Nicholas Ng, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In the run-up to the Urban Council election, the Auxiliary Medical Services (AMS) organised free health-check days jointly with certain political groups in various districts in Kwun Tong. As some candidates standing for the election were members of the co-organisers of the functions, they were featured prominently both in the promotional activities preceding the functions as well as on the actual health-check days. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

whether the expenses incurred by the political groups concerned in the above- mentioned promotional activities fall within the definition of "election expenses" set out in the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance;

if the answer to (a) is in the affirmative, whether public organisations such as the AMS can participate or assist in any election- related campaign activities in support of any candidate bearing in mind that the AMS is a public organisation under the Security Branch and fully funded by the Government: if not, why the AMS has participated in the above-mentioned promotional activities in Kwun Tong; and

how the Government will deal with those candidates who have participated in the above-mentioned promotional activities organised jointly with the AMS, particularly in regard to whether their candidature will be revoked and whether checks will be carried out to ascertain if the expenses incurred in such activities have been included in the returns of their election expenses?