XN000022-1995-10-16 — Page 2

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Premature broadcast of exit poll results censured

The Boundary and Election Commission (BEC) today (Monday) publicly censured three electronic media stations for broadcasting exit poll results of the geographical constituency (GC) and functional constituency (FC) elections before all polls of the Legislative Council (LegCo) elections closed at midnight on September 17, 1995.

The three media organisations are the Asia Television Limited, Radio Television Hong Kong and Wharf Cable Limited.

BEC chairman, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, said the move of the three stations had breached chapter 12 of the BEC guidelines which prohibited the publication of exit poll results until after the close of poll in order to avoid any effect that it might have on voter behaviour or on election results.

"They blatantly flouted the BEC guidelines and slighted the importance of maintaining a fair election.

"The commission deplores the irresponsible and unreasonable behaviour of the three television and radio stations," Mr Justice Woo said.

On the other hand, he noted with pleasure that other members of the electronic media had exercised admirable self-restraint and acted most sensibly and responsibly in not adopting the same stance as that of the organisations under censure.

BEC had extended the polling hours for the Election Committee constituency (ECC) election to midnight, one and a half hours longer than those for the GCs and FCs, as some ECC voters, who were all District Board members, were either candidates or canvassers who would be heavily involved in electioneering during the day from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm.

Since making arrangement for more polling stations for them was not possible, polling hours were therefore extended to facilitate these voters to cast their votes at the single polling station provided to them.

BEC met representatives of the electronic media on August 29 to discuss the implications of the extension of the polling hours for the ECC election. Having taken into account of the representatives' comments, BEC then consulted all ECC voters and candidates who would be most affected by way of a questionnaire.