Election expense limit for District Council election
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The Chief Executive in Council made the Maximum Amount of Election Expenses (District Council Election) Regulation on May 8 under section 45 of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance to prescribe $48,000 as the election expense limit for a candidate of District Council election. The Regulation will be published in the Gazette on May 11.
"The District Council election expense limit has not been revised since 1994. We consider it appropriate to adjust the election expense limit upwards from $45,000 to $48,000 to reflect the cumulative inflation rate," a spokesman for the Constitutional Affairs Bureau said today (May 9).
"The election expense limit will allow candidates to compete on a level playing field. In setting the limit, our principle has always been that the limit must not be so low as to place unreasonable restriction on electioneering activities, or so high as to deter less well-off candidates from standing for election.
"Members of the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs were consulted at its meeting on February 8. The majority of members considered it appropriate to adjust the election expense limit in line with inflation," the spokesman said.
The regulation will be tabled in the Legislative Council on May 16 for negative vetting. The new election expense limit will come into operation on September 1 and be applicable to the 2007 District Council election.
Ends/Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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