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Subsidy rate of financial assistance scheme for candidates and election expenses limit for District Council election increased

     On February 24, 2015, the Chief Executive in Council has made the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 7) Order 2015 in accordance with section 82 of the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547) to increase the subsidy rate of the financial assistance scheme for candidates of District Council (DC) elections; and also the Maximum Amount of Election Expenses (District Council Election) (Amendment) Regulation 2015 under section 45 of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (Cap. 554) to increase the election expenses limit (EEL) for DC elections. Both pieces of subsidiary legislation would be published in the Gazette on March 6.

     A government spokesman said today (March 4) that after the above pieces of subsidiary legislation come into effect, starting with the DC ordinary election to be held in late 2015, the subsidy rate of the financial assistance scheme for candidates in DC elections would be increased from $12 per vote to $14 per vote, while the EEL for DC elections would be increased from $53,800 to $63,100.

     "The current adjustment of the subsidy rate is based on the estimated cumulative inflation rate from 2012 to 2015 (i.e. 17.3 per cent). The EEL adjustment also took into account the estimated cumulative inflation rate over the same period, as well as the declared election expenses of contested candidates in recent DC elections," the spokesman said.

     "Members of the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs were consulted at its meeting on February 16, 2015. Members raised no objection to the proposals."

     The two pieces of subsidiary legislation implementing the said adjustments will be tabled in the Legislative Council on March 18, 2015 for negative vetting.

Ends/Wednesday, March 4, 2015