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November 26, 2015

Tougher fines mooted for voter registration fraud

  • A public consultation on ways to improve voter registrations will end in January next year. Photo: Courtesy of ISD
    A public consultation on ways to improve voter registrations will end in January next year. Photo: Courtesy of ISD
The government is proposing lengthier jail terms and heavier financial penalties to weed out fraud in voter registration to prevent vote-rigging in future elections.

In a public consultation launched on Thursday, authorities have suggested raising the maximum penalties for making false statements from the current HK$5,000 and imprisonment for 6 months, to a fine of HK$10,000 and 2 years in prison. 

It has also proposed regulations requiring applicants to submit proof of address for new registrations or for changes to personal particulars, and strengthening cross-checking of voter addresses with other government departments.

The government also suggested extending the time limit for the Revising Officer to process objections and conduct hearings. The public consultation ends on January 8, 2016.

http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1226087-20151126.htm