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The Democratic Party yesterday launched an attack against Executive Councillor Tam Yiu-chung for allegedly putting up campaign posters at Housing Department premises without approval.

 It has filed a complaint with the Electoral Affairs Commission.

 The move underlined the heated fight in New Territories West, where 10 groups have submitted candidates with five seats up for grabs.

 It has triggered threats of retaliatory complaints from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), Mr Tam's party.

 Democrat Lee Wing-tat, who leads his party's ticket, said Mr Tam violated election rules requiring the approval of returning officers prior to the posting of election material at Housing Department property.

 The candidates are scheduled to draw lots on April 25 to determine the allocation of space.

 Mr Lee said Mr Tam had violated chapter five of the guidelines on election-related activities. He said the offence was punishable by a $5,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.

 Mr Tam's campaign manger, Au Yeung Po-chun, said members of the canvassing team were too eager to promote the DAB's candidates.

 'You cannot blame them harshly for doing that - they had no idea that it was against the rules,' she said. Ms Au said they would not remove the posters unless the Electoral Affairs Commission instructed them to do so.

 A commission spokesman refused to comment on individual cases, but said a committee would examine each complaint individually.

 She said the commission reserved the right to tear down posters which had been posted without prior approval and candidates found to have breached the guidelines would be censured.

 Speaking to building managers yesterday, commission chairman Justice Woo Kwok-hing called for equal treatment to all candidates.

 He said that although money could be charged by private property managers for the distribution of handbills for the candidates, the level of the charge should not be 'too outrageous'.

 Asked whether the commission's ability to merely issue censures rendered it incapable of curbing candidates' campaign violations, Mr Justice Woo said the body would recommend changes in legislation if there were frequent and serious abuses.



Row over 'illegal' posters