Hong Kong election watchdog probes alleged illegal supply of exit poll data to DAB during 2012 Legco vote
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen says case will be investigated following claim by DAB lawmaker Christopher Chung Shu-kun his party was able to “pass surplus” votes to another pro-Beijing party based on information from pollsters
The election watchdog is looking into whether exit-pollsters illegally fed data to a pro-establishment political party during the last Legislative Council elections, after a disgruntled party member made the claim earlier this month.
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen disclosed the move on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session in the legislature, when he was asked by a pan-democrat about the case, which allegedly involved the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
“The Registration and Electoral Office is looking into the case,” Tam said. “If there is evidence indicating any approved applicant or applicant organisation failed to comply with guidelines, the Electoral Affairs Commission will take action according to the established mechanisms.”
Under law, any organisation authorised to conduct exit polls during an election should not release the results to any candidate before the close of polling stations. Any breach of the rule could lead to prosecution.
No political party applied to conduct exit polls in 2012, but at least three groups doing so were associated with pro-Beijing individuals or organisations.