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The Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va, has reminded voters not to take photographs inside polling stations when they go to the polls today. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote this afternoon, Mr Cheong said there had been five cases of voters allegedly taking pictures inside polling stations so far. He said the security police were working closely with the Electoral Affairs Committee on all alleged offences and would immediately report to the Committee once any violation is spotted.
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Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, said today the fifth Legislative Assembly election would push forward Macao's constitutional development, as she urged voters to turn out and cast their votes. Ms Chan said she hoped voters would make their voice heard via the ballot box. After casting her own vote this afternoon, Ms Chan thanked the Electoral Affairs Committee for its contribution and the media for its support. She said the authorities would closely follow today's polls and the Electoral Affairs Committee would submit a report to the Government upon the conclusion of the election. If there is room for improvement in legal or technical terms, she said, the authorities would study it accordingly.
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The Prosecutor-General of the Public Prosecutions Office, Mr Ho Chio Meng, has encouraged voters to exercise their civic right by voting in today's Legislative Assembly election. Mr Ho, who cast his ballot this morning, described today's polls as an important event in Macao's democratic and political life. Commenting on the case of voters allegedly photographing their ballot forms with mobile phones, the Prosecutor-General reminded voters to abide by the law and the election guidelines issued by the Electoral Affairs Committee. Mr Ho stressed that any violation of the electoral law would not only be a criminal offence, but would also undermine the spirit of democracy and the rule of law. He told reporters that the Public Prosecutions Office had so far formally received one report of alleged bribing connected with the fifth Legislative Assembly election. He added that a prima facie has been established, as earlier announced by the Commission Against Corruption, and therefore it had been returned to the Commission for further investigation. According to Mr Ho, the Public Prosecutions Office had received some reports of vote-rigging, jumping the gun on election campaigning, as well as libel and slander in connection with the present election. But less than 10 of these allege vote-buying. He re-iterated that vote-buying is a serious criminal offence which carries an eight years maximum jail term, and highlighted that the Public Prosecutions Office would take timely and forceful action to prosecute offenders. He added that the current electoral law merely penalises the persons involved in vote buying while the candidate for whom the vote is being bought is not affected at all. He said he believed the law should be amended in line with social developments and that his Office would suggest a proposal to amend the law's revision following on the present investigations.
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The Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Jose Proenca Branco, today urged registered voters to fulfill their civic duty and cast their votes. Speaking to the press after voting at Macau Stadium this morning, he also confirmed that three voters have been seen taking photographs of their votes with their mobile phones and that they would be prosecuted with aggravated disobedience charges. He said the police authorities would keep close contact with the Electoral Affairs Committee for the Legislative Assembly Election.
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The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, today urged voters to go to the polls and vote for their representatives in the Legislative Assembly. Mr Lau cast his own ballot at noon today, and later thanked the staff at all polling stations for their hard work. Speaking to reporters after voting, Mr Lau was asked whether the Government would re-submit to the new Legislative Assembly the draft bill on urban renewal, which was withdrawn earlier. He said that the Government would only be able to get a better picture for drafting the bill after the Land Law, the Urban Planning Law and the Cultural Heritage Protection Law came into effect in March next year. Mr Lau pointed out that legislation on urban renewal is necessary and that the Government would strive to work on drafting the new bill as soon as possible.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today called on all registered voters to turn out and cast their votes in the fifth election of members to the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Executive made the appeal to voters to exercise their civic right at noon, after casting his own ballot. Speaking to reporters upon leaving the polling station, Mr Chui first thanked the Electoral Affairs Committee for their hard work. He also expressed his appreciation for the media for enabling the general public to get the latest information about today's polls. Mr Chui noted that the Electoral Affairs Committee had strictly abided by the law in the run-up to today's polls to ensure a fair election. He stressed that the Government would not tolerate any violation of the law in this election. When asked about how the administration would improve co-ordination with the legislature, the Chief Executive said the Government would continue to enhance communication with the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the Basic Law.
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Three voters are under investigation for allegedly taking photographs of their votes with mobile phones, the Electoral Affairs Committee for the Legislative Assembly Election announced today. Committee President, Mr Ip Son Sang, said polling station officers spotted the alleged offences and the cases have been passed on to the Public Security Police and Public Prosecutions Office for investigation. He warned that people who dared to violate election laws and regulations would face relevant legal consequences, including criminal prosecutions. Mr Ip also reported that by 10 am a total of 15,932 voters have cast their votes and all polling stations were functioning properly. He expressed his gratitude to the Chief Executive and all government entities for their support to the Electoral Affairs Committee for the Legislative Assembly Election.
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The Commissioner of Audit, Mr Ho Veng On, urged all registered voters to cast their votes. Mr Ho voted at the polling station at the Macau Forum this morning, where he urged other voters to vote. He was satisfied with the promotion of the election and the arrangements and order at the polling stations, he said.
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The President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai, urged all registered voters to cast their votes and exercise their civil rights. Speaking to the press after casting his vote at the polling station at Instituto Salesiano, Mr Sam encouraged all voters to cherish their rights to elect members to the Legislative Assembly.
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The Secretary for Social Affairs, Mr Cheong U, has urged voters to fulfill their civil rights and duties by coming out and cast their votes in the fifth-term Legislative Assembly election. Speaking to reporters after he had voted at the D. José da Costa Nunes Kindergarten polling station this morning, Mr Cheong said he was glad the number of registered voters had increased by tens of thousands and it was encouraging to see that most of them were young voters, which showed that they cared for Macao. Mr Cheong said he believed that members of the Legislative Assembly who come from various sectors would work together with the government to contribute to the development of Macao in social, economic and political areas. A total of 145 of candidates from 20 lists are contesting 14 directly-elected seats in the election, which is held every four years. The polls opened at 9 am and will close at 9 pm tonight.
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