ICAC arrests man for inciting people not to vote in Sunday's election

A 38-year-old program analyst was arrested yesterday by anti-graft officers for inciting others not to vote in Sunday's district council elections.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption, which enforces local election law, said the man allegedly reposted messages from social media inciting others to boycott the district council elections to be held Sunday.

The post the man had reposted called on others to put two ticks on their ballots, which would render them invalid.

"Anyone who incites another person to deal with a ballot paper that would render it invalid may contravene Section 27A of the Election (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance and the offence warrants a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and a fine of HK$200,000 upon conviction," ICAC said on its official website yesterday.

ICAC added that it will take resolute enforcement actions to combat all conduct that may constitute a breach of the ordinance and urged the public to abide by the law and "not to engage in illegal appeals or repost any unlawful contents in order to uphold a fair and clean election."

Tycoons and senior government officials yesterday joined the chorus to promote the district council elections.

In a promotional video released by the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong yesterday, its executive committee chairman Stewart Leung Chi-kin, president Keith Kerr and real estate and construction sector lawmaker Louis Loong Hon-biu said more than 800 people in the sector have planned to vote. Kerr also said the SAR will be successfully rebuilt if society stays united.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok also sent a letter to all Department of Justice officers, calling on them to cast their ballots to build a better community on his Facebook yesterday.

Lam said in his post that a good environment and facilities of a community are vital to building a warm home for everyone.

He added that district council members are the "spokesmen" of citizens and "intermediaries" between the community and the government and everyone should vote for the one they wish to speak for them.

"If you think it's not a big deal to give up the right to vote, I'm afraid that I can't agree with you," he said, adding that voting will show citizens' high expectations for elected members, which will push them to spare no effort to contribute to the community.

He encouraged all the officers of the department to vote along with their families and friends to "build a better community together."

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.comscorp.com