Coercion warning in tourism sector
Tourism groups were yesterday warned not to pressure their employees to vote for particular Election Committee candidates.
Company chiefs should avoid giving the impression that employees were being forced to vote for candidates they backed, Principal Assistant Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Patrick Ho Chung-kei said.
'You have to be careful not to exert any undue influence which could be seen as coercing others to vote for someone,' he said in a briefing to the tourism sector.
The warning followed concerns about companies recommending people to seek one of the 12 tourism seats in the 800-strong Election Committee, which will return 10 lawmakers in May.
Travel Industry Council chairman Simon Hau Suk-kei said the body would consider giving financial support to hopefuls, who are required to spend less than $160,000 for each seat.
'We want to encourage them to join the polls,' he said.
The council would fairly recommend whoever come forward for support, he added.
Chief ICAC officer Rita Lily Liaw said any recommendation wordings should be 'neutral', adding that all promotion costs must be accounted for.
