XN000022-1995-10-16 — Page 3

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Out of the 153 returns received, 76 (64 electors and 12 candidates) considered that such announcement of the results should not be made until after midnight, 58 (57 electors and one candidate) considered that announcement could be made after 10.30 pm while 19 (18 electors and one candidate) had no opinion.

After considering carefully the responses and the media's representations, BEC decided that the exit poll results for GC and FC elections should not be announced until after all polls of the LegCo elections had closed at midnight.

"Voter behaviour might be affected by any early release of the exit poll results.

"The ECC was to return 10 seats out of 60 in LegCo. Therefore, any possible external influence on any one of 283 ECC electors might have a significant effect.

"Any doubt in the credibility of the election results must be avoided," Mr Justice Woo said.

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While the public might be interested in the exit poll results, BEC did not see any compelling need for the public to be apprised of them one and a half hours before all the polls closed, to justify an arrangement which might cast doubt on the election results, he said.

The electronic media were duly informed of the decision on September 13. BEC also appealed to them for co-operation and support of a fair election, urging them to observe the BEC guidelines.

A warning was also given that any breach would be viewed very seriously by the BEC and might very well result in a public censure.

"The commission is most disappointed to note that despite all the advice given, the three electronic media stations announced the exit poll results shortly after 10.30 pm on September 17, 1995," Mr Justice Woo said.

End/Monday, October 16, 1995