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Thursday, November 07, 2019, 22:59
EAC appeals for peaceful, fair and safe election
By chinadailyhk.com
Thursday, November 07, 2019, 22:59 By chinadailyhk.com

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The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) on Thursday (Nov 7) strongly appealed to the public to keep calm and return to rationality. The community is also urged to stop all threats and violence to support the holding of election in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The 2019 District Council Ordinary Election will be held on Nov 24. 

 The EAC calls on all sectors of the society to exercise restraint, respect and be inclusive to people with different views.

A spokesman for the EAC reiterated that over 4.13 million registered electors can vote in the District Council Election, their voting right should not be interfered by violence or any improper conduct. The election needs to be held in a peaceful, fair, open and safe manner.

"The electioneering activities of candidates and their supporters are getting more and more frequent as polling day draws near. The EAC calls on all sectors of the society to exercise restraint, respect and be inclusive to people with different views. We are devoting all efforts to prepare for the election and formulate contingency plans for possible incidents, to ensure the election can be held in an open, fair and honest manner. However, it is important to note that the smooth proceeding of election owes much to the full co-operation of all Hong Kong citizens to create a safe environment for Hong Kong," said the spokesman. 

"It is the expectation of all candidates and electors to have a smooth election. As such, different sectors of the community should respect each other, and not to sabotage the long-standing good election culture in Hong Kong or obstruct the election. Cessation of violence is needed for candidates to hold electioneering activities, electors to cast their votes safely on polling day, and polling staff to serve electors in peaceful manner."

The spokesman reiterated that the election is all about making use of the vote we have, to express our views in a peaceful manner. The EAC calls on everyone to exercise restraint. Hong Kong is under the rule of law. Members of the public should resolve controversial issues by the principles of lawfulness, fairness and reasonableness, and not to resort to violence.

"There have been successive occurrences of protests, confrontations and violent incidents in society recently, especially during weekends. Candidates of the District Council Election and public figures are assaulted, offices of members of the Legislative Council and District Councils are vandalised. The situation is indeed worrying. The EAC does not want to see any threats or violence in the election. Members of the public should report immediately to the law enforcement agencies should they encounter any violence, whether or not it is in connection with the election. Witness or insiders should testify so that law enforcement agencies can bring the people with corrupt or illegal conduct to justice. The EAC is not a law enforcement agency. If relevant complaints are received by the EAC, the cases would also be referred to the law enforcement agencies for follow up.

The EAC is an independent, apolitical and impartial body established under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, responsible for organizing and supervising public elections in an open, fair and honest manner. If anyone thinks that the election is interfered by corrupt or illegal conduct, or there is a material irregularity, candidates and the electors of the relevant constituency can make election petitions to query the result of the election, which will be determined by the court. 

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