The Electoral Affairs Commission has expressed deep concern and regret over threats made to Returning Officers.
In a statement today, it said one Returning Officer is believed to have been the victim of criminal intimidation.
It said it appreciates that there are different community views towards the decisions of Returning Officers to invalidate the nominations of some Legislative Council Election candidates. However, the public must understand that Returning Officers acted entirely in accordance with the requirements under the law to decide whether the nominations were valid or not.
Taking into account all the information, the Returning Officers of various geographical constituencies and functional constituencies decided on the validity of the nominations according to the law and legal advice.
They also recorded the information, including the decision of the Returning Officer and the reasons concerned, in the nomination forms which are open for public inspection.
Under the current electoral legislation, a mechanism is in place to deal with problems which may arise in the course of the election.
People who are discontent with the decisions of Returning Officers should deal with the disagreements through the legal procedures. Resorting to intimidation or violent acts only hurts the electoral system and undermines the rule of law in Hong Kong, it added.
