Elderly centres must remain neutral: Chris Sun
Labour and welfare minister Chris Sun on Sunday said more than 190 elderly community centres across Hong Kong have participated in a scheme that makes it easier for the elderly to vote in the District Council election. The Social Welfare Department offers a one-off allowance of HK$20,000 to these centres to provide special services that help seniors cast their ballots, including arranging transport to bring them and their carers to and from polling stations. Speaking to reporters after visiting an elderly centre, Sun pointed out that guidelines have been issued for service providers, requiring them to remain neutral. "The sole purpose of this convenient measure is to facilitate voting for the elderly. We have issued clear guidelines to all centres, reminding them to remain neutral. Their only role is to assist the elderly in voting, and they must not influence the voting intentions of the elderly." Some elderly people told RTHK that they were happy with the arrangement, adding that they hope similar measures will be in place for the next District Council election.