Module 4 Annex 2

Analysis of Election Scenarios

Scenario 1

A candidate, Mr CHAN, organises and sponsors a local boat trip for electors of his constituency during the election period. During the tour, Mr CHAN publicises his election platform and calls upon the participants to vote for him.

Question for Group Discussion

Is Mr CHAN’s act acceptable? Why?

(Please compile statistics of group members’ views and write down the reasons behind.)

□ / □ / □
Acceptable / Unacceptable / It Depends / I Don't Know


Analysis of Election Scenarios

Scenario 2

A candidate, Miss LI, attends an annual dinner held by a district organisation. During the dinner, she appeals support from the participants, saying that the dinner will be partially sponsored by her as a token of appreciation for electors’ support.

Question for Group Discussion

Is Miss LI’s act acceptable? Why?

(Please compile statistics of group members’ views and write down the reasons behind.)

□ / □ / □
Acceptable / Unacceptable / It Depends / I Don't Know


Analysis of Election Scenarios

Scenario 3

A company owner, Mr WONG, comes to know that a major client of his company has decided to run for the District Council Election of a certain district. In order to please the client, Mr WONG hints to his employees residing in the district that they should vote for the client so as to secure their employment.

Question for Group Discussion

Is Mr WONG’s act acceptable? Why?

(Please compile statistics of group members’ views and write down the reasons behind.)

□ / □ / □
Acceptable / Unacceptable / It Depends / I Don't Know


Analysis of Election Scenarios

Scenario 4

A good friend of Miss CHEUNG stands as a candidate in the District Council Election, but Miss CHEUNG is not residing in the constituency which her friend competes for a seat. In order to support her friend, Miss CHEUNG uses a relative’s address in her application for voter registration even though she is not living there and later votes at the election in the said constituency.

Question for Group Discussion

Is Miss CHEUNG’s act acceptable? Why?

(Please compile statistics of group members’ views and write down the reasons behind.)

□ / □ / □
Acceptable / Unacceptable / It Depends / I Don't Know


Analysis of Election Scenarios

Scenario 5

A candidate, Mr CHOW, is studying for a Master’s Degree and will graduate soon. To solicit electors’ support, he claims in his election advertisement that he has already been awarded the qualification.

Question for Group Discussion

Is Mr CHOW’s act acceptable? Why?

(Please compile statistics of group members’ views and write down the reasons behind.)

□ / □ / □
Acceptable / Unacceptable / It Depends / I Don't Know


Reference Materials for Teachers

Analysis of Election Scenarios

Teachers may respond to students’ views by pointing out that the acts described in these scenarios are electoral malpractices which undermine the fairness of elections. The person who commits such act may even have contravened the law.

Enforced by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) aims at upholding clean elections. The maximum penalty for corrupt conduct at an election is seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$500,000.

Scenarios / Values and Attitudes / ECICO
Scenario 1:
A candidate, Mr CHAN, organises and sponsors a local boat trip for electors of his constituency during the election period. / Fairness: Offering advantages to bribe electors violates the principle of fairness. / The candidate would commit an offence if the purpose of his offering an advantage (sponsoring the boat trip) is to induce the electors to vote for him.
Scenario 2:
A candidate, Miss LI, appeals support from the participants during a dinner and sponsors part of the dinner expenses. / Fairness: Offering food, drink or entertainment to bribe electors violates the principle of fairness. / It is an offence if a person, whether by himself or through any other persons, provides food, drink or entertainment with a view to influencing other people’s voting decision.
Scenario 3:
A company owner, Mr WONG, requests his employees to vote for a client and hints that they can secure their employment by doing so. / Fairness: The use of force or duress against electors to influence their voting decision violates the principle of fairness.
Liberty: Electors’ freedom of choice is restricted. / It is an offence if a person uses force or duress against another person with a view to influencing his / her voting decision.
Scenario 4:
Miss CHEUNG uses a relative’s address in her voter registration and later votes at the election in the said constituency. / Honesty: The use of false information in elections is a dishonest act.
Fairness: It is unfair if electors not belonging to the constituency can cast a vote. / It is an offence if a person gives false information to the electoral officer for voter registration and subsequently votes at an election.
Scenario 5:
Mr CHOW is studying for a Master’s Degree but claims in his election advertisement that he has already been awarded the qualification. / Honesty: The publication of false information in election advertisement is a dishonest act. It also deprives electors of true information for selecting the suitable candidate(s). / As Mr CHOW has not yet completed the programme, claiming himself having a Master’s Degree qualification in the election advertisement is a false statement of fact about a candidate. It is an offence if a person publishes materially false statement of fact about a candidate for the purpose of promoting his / her election.