Say No to Corrupt Conduct at Elections

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Say No to Corrupt Conduct at Elections Youth & Moral Education Office Independent Commission Against Corruption Public elections are important to the development of Hong Kong.

1 Say No to Corrupt Conduct at Elections Youth & Moral Education Office Independent Commission Against Corruption Public elections are important to the development of Hong Kong. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has a duty to enforce the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance and handle election-related complaints to ensure clean and fair elections and prevent corrupt and illegal conduct in public elections. As several public elections such as the District Council Election, the Legislative Council Election, etc are approaching, the ICAC produced this lesson plan to support teaching of the election-related topics at schools. Adapted from the Clean Elections Liberal Studies Teaching Package, the lesson plan aims to help teachers enhance students understanding of clean elections and facilitate discussion of positive values such as fairness and honesty. Related ICAC moral education resources: ICAC dedicated website on clean elections ICAC Liberal Studies Teaching Package - Clean Elections ICAC "Life and Society" Teaching Package (for secondary students) Module 4 Clean Elections Youth & Moral Education Office Community Relations Department, ICAC September 2015

2 Topic: Fair and clean elections, law compliance and upholding principles Learning objective: Enhancing students understanding of the importance of fair and clean elections Target group: Time allocation: Junior secondary students 40 minutes Learning and Teaching Suggestions: 1. Warm-up activities Play the following APIs on clean elections (YouTube ICAC Channel): 1. Don t sell your vote ( 2. Support Clean Elections Refreshments ( Ask students to think over the following questions after watching Don t sell your vote : What is the key message of the video? What analogy does it use to deliver the message? (Suggested answer: the video educates the public to abide by the rules and support clean elections. Accepting electoral bribes is like walking a tightrope, one small step is all it takes for one to lose everything.) Ask students to think over the following questions after watching Support Clean Elections Refreshments : What will be the consequences for offering refreshments with a view to influence other people s voting decisions in a public election? (Suggested answer: as spelled out at the end of the video, it is illegal to provide voters with food, drink or entertainment to influence their voting decisions.)

Invite students who have taken part in election activities (such as class committee and students union) to share their views on clean elections. Introduce the topic of Fair and Clean Elections. 2.

3 Invite students who have taken part in election activities (such as class committee and students union) to share their views on clean elections. Introduce the topic of Fair and Clean Elections. 2. Group discussion and presentation Divide students into groups of six; Distribute the script (Appendix 1) and worksheet (Appendix 2) of Election Storm; Ask students to read the script and discuss the issues raised in the worksheet before presenting their views by their group representatives. Guide students to think over the following issues: If Cabinet B is finally elected by employing improper means of canvassing, what do you think the feelings of the following parties will be? Members of Cabinet A Members of Cabinet B Students affected by rumours / threats / inducements Other students 3. Teacher s analysis Teachers may point out to students that they should make their own decision as to which cabinet to vote for based on objective considerations such as students election platforms, capabilities and characters. In addition, the fairness of an election will be seriously disrupted if Cabinet B uses the following means of canvassing: Cabinet B s President suggests spreading rumours on campus that Cabinet A has offered advantages. (Note: Publishing false statements concerning the character of candidates for the purpose of prejudicing the election of Cabinet A violates the principle of fairness) A member of Cabinet B treats Classmate C to a buffet in return for voting for Cabinet B. (Note: Offering refreshments to bribe electors violates the principle of fairness)

4 A member of Cabinet B warns Classmate D not to vote for Cabinet A in a threatening tone, or he will end their friendship. (Note: Using threats to influence a classmate s voting decision violates the principle of fairness) Teachers may also elaborate how the above acts will adversely affect both cabinets and the students: Cabinet A: Though Cabinet A has been serving all schoolmates wholeheartedly, the rumours will make them lose support from students. Cabinet A will have to spend extra time to dispel the rumours, and the two cabinets may even resort to mutual attack as a kind of canvassing tactics. As a result, students will not be able to judge the two cabinets objectively. Cabinet B: Once students discover that Cabinet B spreads the rumours and uses threats and inducements in return for votes during the election period, Cabinet B s reputation will be totally ruined. Students will also query the integrity of members of Cabinet B. Cabinet B may be disqualified from standing for election for violation of the election rules of the students union. Even if Cabinet B is elected, its members will have to live with a guilty conscience. Students affected by rumours/threats/inducements: These students may eventually cast the wrong votes for a cabinet which may not be capable of serving the students. On the other hand, students having accepted the inducements will disrupt fairness of the election by selling their votes in return for advantages. Other students: The election results do not reflect the capabilities of the two cabinets. The credibility of the new students union may be challenged and it may not be able to perform its functions effectively.

5 4. Conclusion Discuss with students how violation of the principle of fairness in elections will adversely affect individuals, the campus and social culture. Guide students to think over the following issues: Why is it necessary for student leaders, including the president and members of the students union, to uphold personal integrity? What do you think if a students union elected by employing corrupt and improper means can perform its role effectively? What will be the consequences if every member of society achieves success or personal gain by employing improper means? What harm will be done to others and to society? Encourage students to uphold fairness and justice in their daily lives.

6 Appendix 1 Election Storm Script Original script by: Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School Adapted by: Youth & Moral Education Office, Independent Commission Against Corruption Characters: Cabinet A s President Cabinet B s President Student A Cabinet A s Member Cabinet B s Member 1 Student B Cabinet B s Member 2 Student C Cabinet B s Member 3 Student D Script ************************** Act 1 ************************** Student A: Student B: Hey, did you watch the match during the holiday? Yea, and the final the night before last. I stayed up until it was over (Cabinet A s Member distributes leaflets) Cabinet A s Member: (Amicably) Hi! Please support Cabinet A! (Distributes a leaflet) Student A: (Takes the leaflet) Wow! Can t believe it s been half a year! It s time for the students union election again! Seems to be hotly contested this year!

7 Student B: Certainly! Both cabinet presidents have been heads of societies. Until the vote day next week, the competition will be increasingly severe. The most interesting part of the show is yet to come (Another scene. Three characters. Cabinet B also canvasses support.) Cabinet B s Member 1: (Passionate) Please support Cabinet B! Cabinet B! Student C: (Looking at the leaflet, Student C nods then exits.) (Cabinet B s Member 1 waves goodbye with a smile.) (Corridor. Cabinet A s President canvasses for votes.) Student C: (Takes the leaflet and exits. Student D walks past.) Cabinet A s President: (Sees Student D) Hi, morning! Student D: (Enters) Hi, President-elect! (Laughter) How s canvassing doing? Cabinet A s President: It s OK! Don t forget to vote for us! Student D: A big thank you must go to you! (Claps Cabinet A s President on the shoulder) You did it by reflecting our views to the teacher that we don t want to line up for the morning assembly, and you managed to use students union election canvassing as an excuse. Now we don t have to line up for the morning assembly for the whole week! It s really cool! Cabinet A s President: Reflecting your views is actually something I ~ should ~ do! (Jokes and speaks with emphasis.) Haha. Student D: Keep it up! See you later!

8 (Another scene in the corridor. Cabinet B s President distributes leaflets.) Cabinet B s President: Please support Cabinet B! (Distributes leaflets. Students take the leaflets then exit.) Cabinet B s Member 2: Please support Cabinet B! Please support us! (Nobody pays attention to him.) (Blows a sigh.) Cabinet B s President: What? Cabinet B s Member 2: We seem to have lost our edge to our contestant! Are we going to lose? Cabinet B s President: Don t worry. I ll figure out a way! Cabinet B s Member 2: The sooner the better. As I know, they started taking action before the holiday. Suspending the morning assembly has already earned them lots of credits. We d better do something real soon. Cabinet B s President: In that case, I think it s time we resorted to our secret weapon! Cabinet B s Member 2: I back you! If the trend continues, we will take a beating! Cabinet B s President: Alright! (Taps Member 2 on the shoulder) Get me a few reliable mates! Let s do some planning! Cabinet B s Member 2: (Nods.) See you at the same place. (Taps President on the shoulder.) ************************** Act 2 ************************** Cabinet B s President: We compete very well with Cabinet A. But who knows they have suddenly gained the upper hand after suspending the morning assembly. As they started it first, we can t help but react in the same way. Let s spread the rumours that they have offered advantages in return for votes. In short, the more exaggerated the better

9 Cabinet B s Member 3: (Speaks before President finishes talking) Well I m afraid it s not a good idea. It seems to be somewhat scandalous. (With hesitation) Cabinet B s Member 2: Scandalous?! You want to win, but you can t figure out a way! If you like, you are free to chicken out any time Cabinet B s Member 3: Calm down! I still back you guys but (Looks frustrated.) Cabinet B s President: No more arguments! I ve made up my mind and I ll take full responsibility! (Members 2 & 3 follow.) (Around the corner of the back alley. Students A and B lean their backs against the wall.) Student B: (Whispers) He s with Cabinet B. Student A: (Whispers) Listen to what he s saying. Cabinet B s Member 2: Don t forget to ask your friends to vote! (Laughter) How can we have the buffet without you! Student C: Student B: Student A: Student B: Got it! I ll ask my friends to vote for you! (Whispers) Hey did you hear them? (Whispers) Do you think we should report it to the teacher? (Whispers) Why don t we wait until we know what s happening!

10 (School entrance.) (Cabinet B s Member 2 leaves the school.) Cabinet B s Member 2: (Angry) I don t believe it! We are in the same class, and I have known you for so long. You are not supporting Cabinet A, are you? Student D: They managed to achieve something before being elected. What have you done? Cabinet B s Member 2: Hold your tongue! In one word, if you don t vote for us, don t blame me for being rude! It will be too late to regret when all your friends are gone! Student D: Student A: Student B: (Looks frustrated) What should we do now?

11 Appendix 2 Election Storm Worksheet In the script Election Storm, Cabinet B employs various unfair means in its canvassing campaign. Please elaborate how such means will disrupt fairness of the election, and what consequences they will have for both cabinets and the students. 1. Cabinet B s President suggests spreading rumours on campus that Cabinet A has offered advantages. 2. A member of Cabinet B treats Classmate C to a buffet in return for voting for Cabinet B. 3. A member of Cabinet B warns Classmate D not to vote for Cabinet A in a threatening tone, or he will end their friendship.

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