62 -
On the vetting exercise, it is conducted by the Registration and Electoral Office every year to ensure the accuracy of the register, which is essential in maintaining the credibility and integrity of our electoral system. The vetting procedures are elaborate and are designed to ensure that no electors would be deleted from the register lightly. There is also an appeal mechanism already built into the existing arrangements to guard against wrongful deletion. The Commission's findings confirm that the vetting arrangements had been carried out in accordance with the law.
Regarding (b), a summary ballot paper account was prepared in respect of each polling station at the close of poll. The discrepancies which occurred between the accounts and the actual number of ballot papers found inside the ballot boxes could be caused by miscalculations by polling staff in compiling the accounts. In all cases, the discrepancies had been verified and rectified by the relevant returning officers in the presence of the candidates and agents present at the count.
Regarding (c), there was a miscalculation of the number of votes counted in the Kowloon South-east Constituency. The Commission found that this was due to a clerical error in that extra votes had been inadvertently added to the total number of votes received by the losing candidate of that constituency. However, the election result for this constituency had not been affected.
Following the discovery of the above error, the Registration and Electoral Office conducted a thorough check of the available counting records in respect of al! the other constituencies and all relevant calculations have been found arithmetically accurate. The Commission is therefore satisfied that the discrepancy found in the Kowloon South-east constituency was only an isolated incident.
Results of the Commission's investigations into these incidents have been made known to the public. They have not altered the fact that the arrangements for the However, if any September Legislative Council elections were open and fair.
candidate or electors (ten or more) feel aggrieved by the election results, the avenue is open to them to consider presenting an election petition to the High Court within two months of the publication of the result of the elections in accordance with the provisions laid down in legislation.
End/Wednesday, October 18, 1995
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.