************************************************************
The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (August 1) sent a letter to the listed organisations of various functional constituencies, requesting them to remind their members not to vote at the functional constituency election of the Legislative Council Election on September 9 this year if they have lost their eligibility to be registered as an elector for the functional constituency. Otherwise, the electors concerned will violate the electoral legislation.
"The eligibility for registration as an elector and voting is clearly stipulated in the Legislative Council Ordinance (Cap. 542). According to section 53(1)(b) of the Ordinance, a person or a body will be disqualified from voting at an election of a functional constituency if he or the body has ceased to be eligible to be registered as an elector in the functional constituency. In addition, according to section 16(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (Cap. 554), a person engages in corrupt conduct at an election if he votes at the election knowing that he is not entitled to do so. He is liable on conviction to a fine of up to $500,000 and to imprisonment for a maximum of seven years," a spokesman for the REO said.
"The final registers of electors for this year were published on July 18. If a functional constituency elector ceases to be eligible for registration as an elector for the functional constituency after that, he will be disqualified to vote at the functional constituency election of the Legislative Council Election this year. If members are found to have lost their eligibility to vote because of changes of membership or other eligibility criteria, the listed organisations should inform the members not to vote at the election as soon as possible and submit updated membership information to the REO for follow-up actions," he said.
Ends/Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN