XN000022-1995-05-24 — Page 9

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The spokesman said in the forthcoming Legislative Council elections, three types of elections would be held on the same day, namely, the geographical, functional and Election Committee constituencies elections.

He said in setting the election expenses limits, the basic principle had always been that the limits must not be so low as to hamper candidates from mounting effective campaigns, nor so high as to deter those who were financially less well-off from running in elections.

"The current election expenses limits for the geographical constituencies and functional constituencies elections were set in 1990. The limits were based on various basic expenditure items that were commonly employed by candidates in their electioneering activities, such as banners, placards and posters.

"In setting the election expenses limits for this year's Legislative Council elections, both the inflationary effects over the past five years and the increase in the variety of expenditure items have been taken into account," he said.

On the number of subscribers required for nomination in the September elections, the spokesman said the number of subscribers required for the geographical constituencies elections would be increased from 10 to 50 in order to discourage frivolous candidates.

"The same number will also be applicable for the nine new functional constituencies due to their relatively large electorate size."

The spokesman said the number of subscribers required for the 20 old functional constituencies would remain the same as in the 1991 elections, namely five for the two smallest functional constituencies the Urban Council and the Regional Council Constituencies, and 10 for the other old functional constituencies.

"As for the newly introduced Election Committee Constituency, which comprises all the District Board members to elect 10 Legislative Council Members, five subscribers will be required.

"The relatively small number of subscribers required for the old functional constituencies and the Election Committee Constituency is determined having regard to the small electorate size of these constituencies," he explained.