Views Sought on Guidelines for Village Representative Elections

Views sought on guidelines for Village Representative Elections

The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today (February 14) released a set of proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of Village Representative (VR) Elections for a one-month public consultation.

Speaking at a press conference, EAC Chairman Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing invited members of the public to make their views on the proposed guidelines known.

"We will consider the public's views carefully when we finalise the guidelines, which candidates, agents, electors, media and villagers have to observe," he said.

Written representations should be sent in person or by post to reach the Secretariat of the Commission (10/F., Harbour Building, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai) by March 15. They can also be sent by fax on 2511 1682 or by e-mail to .

Mr Justice Woo invited those who want to present their views orally to attend a public forum to be held on Monday, March 10 from 10 am to 12 noon at the Registration and Electoral Office Conference Room (10/F., Harbour Building, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai).

The proposed guidelines are modelled on the "Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the 1999 District Councils Election" and the "Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Election Committee Subsector Elections", but with appropriate changes to reflect the different arrangements for VR elections.

A wide range of election-related activities, such as nomination of candidates, appointment and roles of agents, election advertisements, election meetings, election broadcasting, media reporting, election forums, amplifying device, broadcasting vans, electioneering activities involving schools or students, canvassing activities outside polling stations, exit polls, election expenses and donations, corrupt and illegal conduct, namedropping, election petitions and complaints procedure are covered in the guidelines.

A total of 1 480 village representatives, comprising 693 Residents Representatives and 787 Indigenous Inhabitants Representatives, will be returned for the 707 villages in the New Territories. In this connection, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) will conduct a series of polls every Saturday and Sunday for six consecutive weeks in July and August.

"Only those included in the Final Register for a village will be eligible to vote in the VR election for that village," Mr Justice Woo said.

To pave way for the VR elections, the HAD will conduct an elector registration exercise from March 1 to 21. Registration procedure is governed by the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration of Electors)(Village Representative Election) Regulation.

Copies of the proposed guidelines are available from the Registration and Electoral Office and the Public Enquiry Service Centres of all District Offices of the Home Affairs Department. They can also be downloaded from the Commission's website at

Also present at the press conference were EAC Members Mr Norman Leung Nai-pang and Dr Elizabeth Shing Shiu-ching, as well as HAD Assistant Director Miss Monica Chen.

End/Friday, February 14, 2003

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