Watchdog 'would increase faith in poll's integrity'
A Washington-based election watchdog said confidence in the integrity of the May elections would improve if it was allowed to monitor voting.
Dick Thornburgh, leader of a National Democratic Institute delegation, rejected Electoral Affairs Commission chief Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing's claim that the secrecy of the polls would be undermined if the watchdog was given access.
Mr Thornburgh, a former United States attorney-general, said worries about secrecy had not arisen during his other monitoring exercises, including two in the Russian Federation.
'I don't think there's ever been a claim that that's been a disturbing influence,' he said after meeting Tung Chee-hwa.
'I think what it does do is to make more credible the integrity of the process, that is, those countries that invite observers are in effect giving a vote of confidence to their own system.' Expressing confidence in the SAR's electoral system, Mr Thornburgh said: 'I think it [integrity] would be enhanced by making the polling places accessible to people who want to observe the election.' Members of the delegation include Somchai Homlaor, Secretary-General of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, and Kamal Hossain, former Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has monitored elections in South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
During the meeting with Mr Tung yesterday, the delegation said it wanted to see Hong Kong introduce full democracy quickly.
'We are a little disappointed with the fact that the Chief Executive sees a little longer time line for the ultimate goal set forth in the Basic Law,' said Mr Thornburgh.
Mr Tung said he had told the group the development of democracy must follow what was set out in the Basic Law.
'Each country is in a different developmental stage and we must do what is right in the democratic process, taking into account the special circumstances around us,' Mr Tung said.
