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Details of the organisations approved to conduct exit polls on the polling day of the 2012 Legislative Council Election were uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk) today (September 5). The information will also be displayed at relevant polling stations on the polling day.
The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) approved a total of five organisations to conduct exit polls at designated polling stations. They are the Association of Community in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Research Association, the Public Opinion Consultation Centre Limited, the Hong Kong Society Monitor and the Public Opinion Programme of the University of Hong Kong.
"To forestall public perception of unfairness, approval to conduct exit polls was granted to the above-mentioned organisations subject to the preconditions that they do not have members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, and have not publicly expressed support and will not publicly express support for any candidate or candidate list in any constituency covered by the exit poll," a spokesman for the REO said.
"These organisations have undertaken not to release the results of the exit polls before the close of the poll to any candidate contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, any person or organisation which has publicly expressed support for any candidate or candidate list contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, or any organisation with member(s) contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll.
"In addition, they should not make specific remarks or predictions on the performance of any individual candidate or candidate list before the close of the poll as this may affect electors' voting intention and have an impact on election results," the spokesman added.
"All approved exit poll interviewers are required to wear an identification badge showing clearly the identity of the organisation conducting the poll and the name of the interviewer during the conduct of the exit poll," he said.
"Interviews are not allowed inside polling stations. It is an elector's right to keep their votes secret and electors' participation in exit polls is wholly voluntary," he stressed.
The REO reminded the public that the Government has not commissioned any person or organisation to conduct exit polls.
For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.
Ends/Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:07
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