Views sought on rural election rules
Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman David Lok (centre) welcomes views from the public on the proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the Rural Representative Election.
The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today released the proposed guidelines on election-related activities regarding the Rural Representative Election (RRE).
A public consultation on the guidelines will be held from now until August 18.
EAC Chairman David Lok stated that the guidelines explain electoral laws in simple terms to remind candidates and stakeholders of all statutory requirements. He added that the guidelines also provide a code of conduct based on the principles of fairness and equality for activities not explicitly stipulated by law.
Mr Lok emphasised that formulating these guidelines is crucial to ensuring all public elections are conducted in an open, honest and fair manner.
The 2027 Rural Ordinary Election will take place early next year. In accordance with established practice, the EAC updates its election guidelines ahead of each rural ordinary election cycle.
The newly proposed guidelines are built upon the October 2022 guidelines for the RRE, incorporating supplementary updates introduced for the May 2026 Rural By-election.
The latest amendments fall into four main categories:
(1) Legal updates to reflect recent legislative changes, including revised penalties for the unlawful display of election advertisements.
(2) Modernised arrangements that introduce new digital options, such as allowing candidates to submit election forms electronically.
(3) Enhanced clarity elaborating on key sections to help candidates easily understand crucial compliance areas.
(4) Structural reorganisation to consolidate chapters and use lists or flowcharts to make the proposed guidelines more concise and reader-friendly.
The proposed guidelines can be downloaded online or viewed at designated Registration & Electoral Offices, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres, and major and district public libraries.
Written representations must be submitted to the EAC Secretariat by email, by post to 8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, or by fax to 2511 1682 on or before August 18.
Call 2891 1001 for enquiries.