Members of the ranks of police constables banned access to the electoral rolls;

Social News

Written by: Li Huina

2019-12-16 19:21

The Police Association of the Police Association claims that police officers have been harassed by "bottoms" in recent months. They believe that the names and addresses of voters in the electoral rolls are suspected of invasion of privacy. They are also afraid that the use of such information will be detrimental to police officers Therefore, judicial review is proposed. The case was heard in the High Court today (16th). The lawyers of the association disputed that Hong Kong's system was inflexible, and pointed out that countries such as Canada have the right to choose to disclose or not disclose information, but Hong Kong voters do not have this right. The lawyer representing the EAC rebutted that there was no evidence to show that the roster information was "bottom", and the number of members of the association accounted for only 0.62% of the total number of voters. It believed that there was no reason to use the roster as a "slap lamb". .

The applicant was a police officer association and an applicant anonymously named "AA". The respondents were the Electoral Affairs Commission, the Chief Electoral Officer and the Registration and Electoral Office, while the Hong Kong Journalists Association was listed as an interested party.

The applicant stated that the current system was inflexible

The applicant stated that the voter's register and the name and address of the voter should be disclosed together and made accessible to all members of the public. The practice violates privacy. Some people may use the information on the voter's register to adversely affect or intimidate others, thereby affecting Voters' family life and their right to vote freely. The applicant directly pointed out that the current practice is inflexible. Voters cannot choose not to disclose their residential address. The EAC must also disclose the names and residential addresses of voters, including the media and even non-electors. The applicant also cited the example of Canada that local voters could choose not to disclose private information.

Think of the register as a "bottom"

The applicant considers that the information of the voter register may become one of the methods of “bottom-up”, posing a practical risk to the voters, including police officers who are also voters. The applicant also stated that if the EAC considers the current practice to be okay, why this year's District Council elections did not disclose the main residential addresses of the candidates.

The applicant also stated that even if the public is not allowed to inspect the voter register information, the media can still apply to the EAC for the EAC to exercise their discretion to allow them to inspect it.

There is no evidence that someone used the roster as the starting point

The lawyer representing the EAC retorted that privacy is not an absolute right, and for a democratic society to function properly, privacy will be limited to a certain degree, and the total number of policemen's associations will only account for the entire population. 0.62% of voters. The Government has pointed out that there is no evidence to suggest that there is any "bottom-up" through the voter register. It is unfair to treat the voter register as a "scapegoat".

The government side will continue its submission tomorrow.

Case number: HCAL3042 / 2019

[Fugitives Regulations] The Police Association and the Grade Association may ban the public from checking the entire electoral roll

[Fugitives Ordinance] Court bans public inspection of voter roster: Worries about media not monitoring

[IT ticket situation] Retrospective reveals the indirect register of lost voters

Court of justice review