The logo of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is seen in Hong Kong at ICAC headquarters building on March 30, 2012. (AARON TAM / AFP)
HONG KONG – The Independent Commission Against Corruption charged two men on Wednesday with violating the elections ordinance for reposting on social media a post that incited others to cast blank votes during the 2021 Legislative Council elections.
In a statement, the ICAC said it filed charges against project officer So Tsun-fung, 22, and welfare worker Chan Sing, 58, after conducting an investigation and seeking the advice of the Department of Justice.
The two defendants were released on bail, pending their court appearance in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for plea
Each of them faces one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person not to vote, or to cast an invalid vote, by activity in public during an election period, a violation under Section 27A of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, the ICAC said.
They were released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for plea, it added.
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According to the ICAC charge, So reposted the call for blank votes on his social media page between Oct 30 and Dec 15, 2021 while Chan did the same between Oct 30 and Nov 2.
The 2021 LegCo Election was open for nominations from Oct 30, 2021. According to the ECICO, the period between that day and the polling day on Dec 19, 2021 was defined as the “election period” of the 2021 LegCo polls, ICAC said.
Any person convicted of violating Section 27A of the ECICO is liable to a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of HK$200,000 ($25,480), it added.
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