The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Barnabas Fung Wah (centre), EAC members Arthur Luk, SC (left) and Professor Fanny Cheung (right) presented the public consultation documents on the proposed guidelines in respect of 2020 Legislative Council Election at a press conference on March 9, 2020. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) of Hong Kong on Monday kicked off a month-long public consultation on the draft guidelines for 2020 Legislative Council elections. 

From now till April 7, members of the public are invited to make written submissions to the EAC as public forums will no longer be held 

Barnabas Fung Wah, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission

From now till April 7, members of the public are invited to make written submissions to the EAC as public forums will no longer be held to reduce the risk of the novel coronavirus transmission, Barnabas Fung Wah, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, said at a press conference. 

The Legislative Council 2020 general election is scheduled for September. In all, 70 members, 35 from geographical constituencies and 35 from functional constituencies, will be returned.

In the draft guidelines, the EAC recommended that elderly voters aged 70 or above, pregnant women and people with disabilities should be given priority in voting to reduce their queuing time.

ALSO READ: Smooth election despite challenges, says EAC chair

The final version of the guidelines will be published in June, he said.

Fung also said that under the new provision of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, if a person, who is neither a candidate nor a candidate’s election expense agent, posts an election advertisement on the Internet, he or she will be exempted from criminal liabilities.

READ MORE: Peaceful HK election is a victory for ‘one country, two systems’