The Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) has budgeted 50.8 million patacas for the legislature’s direct and indirect elections this year, an 8.5 percent decrease from the 2017 elections, Tong Hio Fong, who heads the government-appointed body, said yesterday.
Tong made the remarks while speaking to reporters after chairing a regular closed-door meeting of the commission at the Public Administration Building in Rua do Campo.
The Legislative Assembly’s (AL) direct and indirect elections take place every four years.
The commission, which is tasked with organising and overseeing this year’s elections, was set up in late December, comprising a president and five other members.
Yesterday’s meeting was the commission’s first, details of which were presented to the media.
Tong, a judge at the Court of Second Instance (TSI), said that since its setting-up over a month ago, the commission has had several meetings with various public entities that will be involved in this year’s direct and indirect legislative elections.
COVID-19 poses ‘big challenge’
Tong said that COVID-19 would be a big challenge to this year’s elections, adding that his commission has held a number of meetings with the Health Bureau (SSM) discussing the possible COVID-19 measures to be implemented during the election campaign and on polling day.
Tong said that if the COVID-19 pandemic and Macau’s epidemic situation remain the same as currently, the government would implement COVID-19 measures for the direct and indirect elections in line with its overall COVID-19 prevention and control measures, according to which all those who enter polling stations or take part in election campaigns must undergo a temperature check and always wear a facemask.
Tong also said that hand sanitiser will be provided in polling stations. The commission will “properly” adjust its COVID-19 prevention measures for the elections in line with the latest COVID-19 development, he said.
Speaking to reporters after the commission’s swearing-in ceremony in late December, Tong said that COVID-19 would be the “biggest” challenge to the legislature’s direct and indirect elections in 2021.
In addition to the Health Bureau (SSM), the commission has also held separate meetings with the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), Printing Bureau (IO), Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Public Security Police (PSP) and Judiciary Police (PJ), Tong said yesterday.
CCAC hotline
According to Tong, CCAC officials have pledged that they will put the upmost effort into their work against any possible violations of election rules and bribery during the upcoming election period. Once the government announces the date of the election, the CCAC will set up a hotline for residents to report suspected violations and palm-greasing, Tong said.
The commission will also maintain close communication with the police for the detection of possible violations of election rules, Tong said.
In the commission’s meetings with the Environmental Protection Bureau and Transport Bureau, officials discussed measures to limit the noise from election campaign vehicles and strengthen safety arrangements for the vehicles, with the aim of ensuring road safety and making sure that residents will not be adversely affected by the noise, while election groups’ campaign rights will not be affected, Tong said.
Spending cut
Tong also said that his commission has proposed a budget of 50.8 million patacas for this year’s direct and indirect legislative elections to Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, an 8.5 percent drop from the elections in 2017. Tong underlined that the amount of the proposed budget will have to be approved by Ho.
Tong said that his commission has proposed a reduced budget in line with the government’s overall policy of cutting its expenditure. Tong said that the reduced spending for this year’s direct and indirect elections could be achieved by not organising “unnecessary large-scale” election-related activities and by reusing the materials that were not used in the 2017 elections.
The legislature’s direct and indirect elections are customarily held in September.
The 33-member legislature comprises 14 directly-elected seats, 12 indirectly-elected seats and seven government-appointed seats. While 14 lawmakers are elected by universal suffrage, 12 are elected by association representatives. The remainder are appointed by the chief executive shortly after the elections.
Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) President Tong Hio Fong (font) briefs reporters yesterday after a closed-door meeting of the commission at the Public Administration Building in Rua do Campo, as fellow commission members Iong Kong Leong (first from left), José Maria da Fonseca Tavares (second from left), Lai U Hou (third from right), Kou Peng Kuan (second from right) and Inês Chan Lou look on. Photo: GCS
