The Government seeks views on proposed measures to enhance the voter registration system that are set out in a consultation document issued today.
After a review of the existing system and seeking the Legislative Council's preliminary views in September, the Government drew up proposals covering voter registration and checking arrangements, penalties on related offences, review of the objection mechanism, time limit for processing objections and address proofs.
Proposed measures include advancing the statutory deadline for change of registration particulars to a date before the publication of the provisional registers and omissions lists, and increasing the penalties for making false statements from a fine of $5,000 and six months' imprisonment to a fine of $10,000 and two years' imprisonment.
On the objection mechanism, it is proposed to specify in law that the burden of proof rests on the objector and that unless the Revising Officer accepts the evidence the objector provides, the registration of the elector being objected to shall stand, and that the objector must appear at hearings the Revising Officer conducts.
It is also proposed that people be required to provide address proof when submitting applications for new registrations or change of registration particulars, to facilitate verification of the electors' identities.
Click here for the consultation document, which is also available at District Office Public Enquiry Service Centres.
Views can be submitted by mail, by fax to 2840 1976 or email on or before January 8.
The postal address is Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau, 12/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.
