A Democratic Party district council candidate has apologised for saying she had the support of several people and organisations without their written consent.
Candy Ho Yun-hing, 41, running in the Fat Tai constituency for Kwai Tsing district council, distributed 1,000 election pamphlets last month claiming the support of lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, cartoonists Zunzi and Malone, the Professional Teachers' Union, the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee, and other Christian and union bodies.
According to the Electoral Affairs Commission's guidelines, it is an offence for a candidate to make a false claim of support.
Making a claim without written consent could draw a fine of $100,000 and three years' jail.
Conviction would also lead to the candidate being disqualified for three years from voting in the Legislative Council or district council elections and disqualified for five years from being nominated or elected as a legislator or district councillor.
However, a candidate can apply to the Court of First Instance for exemption in the case of an honest error.
Ms Ho is to seek such an exemption.
