New guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the
Hong Kong Legislative Council elections was published on
Saturday.
The new guidelines will apply to all future Legislative Council
elections including the next one in September, said Hong Kong
Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Woo Kwok-hing.
The nomination for the Sept.12 Hong Kong Legislative Council
elections will run from July 22 to August 4, and potential
candidates should read the new set of Legislative Council election
guidelines, said Woo Kwok-hing.
One of the major amendments of the guidelines is to raise the
maximum imprisonment term from three to six months for the offense
of taking photographs inside a polling station and for offenses
relating to the infringement of secrecy of votes. The maximum fine
for such offenses remains unchanged at HK$5,000 (US$640).
The maximum penalty for using mobile phones inside a polling
station contrary to a direction of the presiding officer remains
the same, that is, three months in jail and a HK$5,000 (US$640)
fine.
According to the new guidelines, counting of functional
constituency votes will be carried out in a central counting
station as in the last Legislative Council election.
The guidelines were finalized after a 30-day public consultation
exercise ended in April, during which 19 written and oral
representations were received.
Tung Chee Hwa Urges Democrats to Partake in
Reform
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa Saturday urged democrats
to accept the National People's Congress Standing Committee's
decision on the 2007 and 2008 election arrangements.
While meeting with members from different political groups, Tung
said democrats should partake actively in the consultation on Hong
Kong's political reform.
The community should deal with the 2007 and 2008 elections first
so as to build a solid foundation to move toward the ultimate goal
of universal suffrage, he added.
Tung reiterated that freedom of speech is a core value treasured
by the community, and that the government will strive to safeguard
such freedom.
He pointed out that the government continues to improve
education, so as to keep pace with developments in the
knowledge-based economy. In the short to medium term, more suitable
jobs will be created for low-skilled workers by initiatives such as
promoting the Individual Visit Scheme.
(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2004)
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