Government handles election matters in accordance with law

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     In response to the procession by the Civil Human Rights Front today (August 21), a government spokesman said that the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), the Registration and Electoral Office, Returning Officers (ROs) and all officers responsible for electoral affairs had been handling matters relating to the Legislative Council Election in strict accordance with the Basic Law, the relevant legislation, as well as the principle of impartiality with a view to ensuring that the election would be held in an open, fair and honest manner.

     "ROs follow strictly the relevant legislation in deciding whether nominations are valid. Taking into account of all relevant information, the ROs of various geographical constituencies and functional constituencies have made decisions on the validity of each nomination according to the law and legal advice. Where a nomination has been decided to be invalid, the concerned RO has also recorded the decision and the reasons for making such a decision in the nomination form for public inspection," the spokesman said.

     The spokesman reiterated that Hong Kong had a solid legal system and that the existing electoral laws already provided for a mechanism to deal with disputes which might arise during an election. Anyone who held different views on the relevant arrangements or decisions should abide by the spirit of the rule of law and follow the established legal procedures in handling such differences.

     "Under such premises, any personal attacks against individual ROs or actions which may involve criminal offences are unacceptable," the spokesman added.

Ends/Sunday, August 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:48

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