Regco election to cost $500,000

ABOUT $500,000 will be spent on the Regional Council by-election forced by Democratic Party manoeuvring, according to the estimates of the Registration and Electoral Office.

An office spokesman said that because of inflation the budget was higher than the Regco by-election in Sai Kung last year, which cost $270,000.

He said the bulk of the money would go on staff salaries, a publicity campaign and operating costs.

The by-election was called when the Democratic Party's Chow Yick-hay resigned from Regco hoping to return to the council through Kwai Tsing District Board indirect elections.

It was believed that such an arrangement would give the party more Regco seats.

A notification of a by-election for the vacancy left by Mr Chow will be gazetted today and nominations for the by-election will begin today for the poll in two weeks' time.