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Written by: Li Huina
2020-05-05 15:14
Last update date: 2020-05-05 15:14The High Court earlier ruled that the police officer's rank-and-file association had challenged the voter register to disclose the names and addresses of voters. The Association refused to accept the ruling and appealed. The Appeals Tribunal held a hearing today (5th). The association ’s lawyers pointed out that there is currently no mechanism for voters to choose or apply not to disclose their personal data. Voting voters into a dilemma, if they do not want to disclose their addresses, they must give up the voting rights granted by the Constitution.
Last year, many police officers were picked up in the anti-registration campaign, and the Police Officer Association worried that the voter register became a way to obtain police officer information. (Profile picture)
There is no mechanism for voters to choose
The appellant was the Police Officer Association and an applicant anonymously named "AA". The respondents are the Electoral Affairs Commission, the Chief Electoral Officer and the Electoral Office, and the Hong Kong Journalists Association is an interested party.
The appellant ’s lawyer pointed out that although the association recognizes the benefits of allowing the public to access the register of voters ’names and addresses, there is currently no mechanism for voters to choose or apply not to disclose their personal data, or to conduct The review also pointed out that other countries also have relevant mechanisms. For example, the United Kingdom can allow voters to apply and provide evidence to support why personal information is not disclosed, questioning how the implementation of the relevant mechanism will affect election justice.
No need to wait for actual damage to appear
The appellant ’s lawyer also pointed out that the voter register information may be used improperly. He also mentioned that although the High Court judged that there was no evidence that someone used the register to "start", they believed that the government did not need to wait until actual damage occurred. To implement the relevant mechanism.
The lawyer also pointed out that the Basic Law does not stipulate that citizens must disclose their names and addresses as a condition when they want to exercise their voting rights. The current practice will put voters in a dilemma. If they do not want to disclose their addresses, they must give up the vote granted by the Constitution They can only choose to protect one of the constitutional rights. Therefore, when an elector can prove that their rights are affected, the EAC should have a mechanism to consider and exercise discretion to deal with their situation.
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Court of Appeals for Judicial Review