Accountancy candidate Peter Chan Po-fun has printed a picture of Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang on his election pamphlets without her written consent.
The picture, showing Ms Chan on the cover of Newsweek magazine, is carried in 10,000 pamphlets printed last Saturday.
A government spokesman said last night: 'The Chief Secretary for Administration did not sign any written consent of support for any Legco candidate.' The pamphlet reads: 'When Peter Chan served on a gazetted committee for 10,000 days, the Honourable Mrs Anson Chan wrote to him: 'There can be few who have such an outstanding record of public service as you, and on behalf of the administration and the entire community, let me say a very warm thank you.
'I hope that you will continue this excellent tradition and perhaps the next 10,000 days will provide another excuse for a celebration. Bravo!' ' The government spokesman said the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance contained specific provisions on the question of claims of support.
As of last Saturday, the Registration and Electoral Office had received 156 complaints - of which 30 were related to election advertisements.