【致政制及內地事務局的公開信】

08/04/2012 工廈藝術家關注組

正視藝術界選舉權利 修訂功能組別選民資格

政制及內地事務局局長譚志源先生：

剛過去的特首選舉，14名自動當選選委，在未有向業界諮詢投票意向下，一致支持梁振英。現在立法會選舉在即，我們發現代表業界的「體育、演藝、文化及出版」功能組別當中的「文化小組」，卻只接受團體選民登記。 對於這種政策歧視，我們感到非常憤怒。

過去16年香港藝術工作迅速專業化。藝術發展局審批的資助申請之中，個別藝術工作者數目過去數年急速上升，尤以視藝、文學及錄像等媒界最為明顯。眾多不同類型團體規模不一，成員重疊，若只以團體作為功能組別選民單位，不單令眾多同業失去投票權，更容易產生種票操控等流弊，有違民主原則。

事實擺在眼前：代表香港參加2009年威尼斯雙年展的視覺藝術家白雙全，選民登記申請已遭彈回！資深編舞家梅卓燕，2007年曾獲頒行政長官社區服務獎，曾獲藝發局資助其個人交流計劃，申請亦同樣被拒。眾多德高望重、對香港文化發展有積極貢獻，以至潛質無限的新進藝術家，均被剝奪應有之投票權。對此，政制事務局仍不聞不問，對藝術界結構毫無認識，卻以不合時宜的選民資格剝奪藝術從業人員的選舉權。故此我們提出以下訴求，促請 貴局尊重業界權益及藝術家的尊嚴：

1. 在2012年5月16日前修訂有關法例，使曾獲香港藝術發展局、前市政局及其他政府部門資助的個人，以及藝發局現有選民名冊中的選民，具有「體育、演藝、文化及出版」功能組別的選民資格；

2. 承認藝術界內的傘狀組織 (umbrella organizations)，並容許其個人會員登記成為「文化小組」的個人選民； 

本小組及所有聯署人將密切關注 貴局進一步行動。

祝 
工作順利

工廈藝術家關注組 
及本信所有聯署人 啟

2012年4月8日

Press Conference: Our Representative is Invisible!
The Cultural Sector Demands the Expulsion of Timothy Fok Tsun-ting and the Return of Our Voting Rights

01/04/2012 Factory Artists Concern Group

Date: 1 April, 2012
Time: 1pm
Venue: 14/F, Foo Tak Building, 367 Henessey Road, Wan Chai

       
Our current cultural sector representatives do not represent us
The 14 current representatives of the cultural sector, who came into office uncontested, openly supported Leung Chun Ying in the last few days of the Chief Executive Election without consulting any of the people who they were supposed to represent. We have missed being represented in the CE election, but there is still the Legco Election. The deadline for voter registration for functional constituencies is 16 May, 2012 – as part of the cultural sector we must stand up for ourselves and elect representatives who we endorse.

We have had enough of Timothy Fok Tsun-ting
Since the establishment of the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publica-tion functional constituency in 1998, Mr Timothy Fok Tsun-ting has been serving as the constituency representative. Mr Fok is not only the representative with the lowest attendance rate; polls have shown that Mr Fok has not instigated any motions for the past 14 years. When the arts were struggling with the issue of gentrification in 2010-2011, Mr Fok did not raise any questions in the Legco, and has never actively shown interest in the development of the arts in Hong Kong.

Face up to the Demands from the Arts

We believe that the demands from the Arts have been disregarded because the existing election system does not fully represent the will of the people. According to the Legislative Council Voters’ Register 2011, there are 2367 registered voters in the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency, amongst them 432 institutional votes belong to the Cultural sector by estimation. Most cultural and artistic practitioners work as freelancers, and are hence not eligible to register as voters. The structural discrimination in voters’ qualification prevents the demands of the sector from being heard in the Legco. As a member of the arts we must make our vote in the Legco Election this September count. We need to elect someone who represents our best interest, who is not only cultivated but also possesses vision in the development of culture. We need such a representative to supervise the Government’s cultural policy, especially on the potential establishment of a cultural burreau.

Our Demands:

1. We demand that the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publishing functional constituency accept immediately the registration of individual voters;

2. We ardently ask cultural and artistic practitioners to register as voters and fight for the rights we deserve;

3. We encourage our colleagues to run for the Legco, to contribute to the long-term cultural development of Hong Kong.

Slogan: 還我選舉權！不要無能議員！

Media Inquiries:

Horace Tse 謝健民 9735 0233 horace.loftstage@hotmail.com

Joanna Lee 李海燕 9176 4038 hoiyinjj@gmail.com

Ivy Chan 陳家儀 9267 0592 ivy@anchavista.com

Facebook Group: Factory Artists Concern Group FACG

Webpage: http://www.fac.org.hk

Voters’ Registration FAQ:

1. I just voted in the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) elections last year, why do we have to register again?

Statutory bodies and registered bodies to which grants, sponsorship or performance fees have been approved by the HKADC, are eligible for both the ADC and the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency voter registration. Even though you are registered to vote for ADC, it does not mean your voter’s qualification is automatically transferred to Registration and Electoral Office. You must register with the Registration and Electoral Office yourself in order to vote in Legco Elections.

2. The Registration and Electoral Office has just sent mail to me saying I can vote in “Super” District Council functional constituency...

The “Super” District Council is available for citizens who are not associated with any functional constituencies. This voter qualification does not require proactive registration. So you can first try to register to become a voter for the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publishing functional constituency. If that falls through, you can still vote for in “Super” District Council functional constituency.

3. I have received government grants before but am not associated with any group/collective. Can I register to vote in the Legco election?

Currently only the Performing Arts and Publication sectors can vote as individuals. But it is still advised that you apply for voter’s qualification as an individual. When/Should the Registration and Electoral Office return your ap-plication, we would proceed to gather all of the rejected applications to show the absurdity of the system. Please complete the REO-41 forms http://www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/reo-41.pdf at your earliest convenience. The Regis-tration and Electoral Office normally takes around 10 business days to process your application.

4. I am/represent a registered group and have received funding from ACD and LCSD, am I eligible to vote?

YES YOU ARE! Please fill in the form REO-42 http://www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/reo-42.pdf and get a trust-worthy representative to cast the vote on election day.

Despite the loopholes of the functional constituencies, we still ask you to abide by the rules. In protection of your legal rights, this leaflet is only for reference. For more details please go to the Registration and Electoral Office’s website (http://www.eac.gov.hk/) and consult Guidance Notes Application for Registration as an Elector in a Functional Constituency and as a Voter in an Election Committee Subsector (REO-GN1(2011)-SPCP) (http://www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/gn/spcp_e.pdf).

Is anyone from FAC running for the Legco seat?

We are currently in the process of lobbying, but aspire to raise the wider awareness from the Arts. We welcome any personnel who is willing to communicate with the cultural sector to represent us/stand up for election.

唔想剝花生 登記做選民 (English version)

19/03/2012 工廈藝術家關注組

「工廈藝術家關注組」為什麼要進行這次行動 ?
關注組發現現有的立法會選民制度不能反映業界結構（藝術家多以「獨立」身份從事藝術活動，但文化小組以「團體」為登記規定），以致業界聲音完全被拼於議會門外。藝術界從業員無法登記，目前「體育，演藝，文化及出版」功能界別內，「文化」只有約432選民單位，而「體育，演藝，出版」約有1935選民單位。（數據來自2011年立會選民登記名冊）


(sources: Voters Registration Office http://www.voterregistration.gov.hk/chi/statistic20113.html)

關注組希望引起藝術界正視現況，團結力量，積極爭取我們應有的發聲權，使我們在今年9月的立法會選舉，選擇真正為我們監察政府文化藝術施政的議員。

趕走霍震霆
特首選舉只能剝花生，唐、梁勾心鬥角一票都不能少，史無前例，扯出成立文化局提議。雖然不知道「係真唔係」，但要是文化局真的成立了，又由誰來替我們監察呢？不說大家可能忘了，原來立法會功能界議席當中是有文化界代表的！為什麼好象完全沒有印象？原因好簡單，就是因為這位「中間分界」原來是位「隱形議員」。

霍震霆政績：

(資料來源：立法會議員天主教監察組)

無人監察下的28億的漏滴效應
負責文化的民政事務局局長說2011-12年度政府投放給文化藝術的預算有成28.23億──嘩！起個西九才216億，咪好多錢？但點解我假假地都係藝團經理，人工只有12,000蚊唔夠？因為這當中30%是康文署場地必要開支($ 8.620億)，加上圖書館和博物館已佔去7成半 (21.527億)。不是說文博專業或公共場地不要緊，但「餅仔細，好閉翕」。漏滴到由藝團和藝術家主動申請資助的藝術發展局，只得2.87%，還要扣去龐大的行政費(20.2%)。

2011-12政府開支預算(文化及藝術)各項目

六大產業無米焰

2009年曾蔭權的施政報告提出發展「六大產業」，並以「活化工廈」作為配合。時至今日，唯一成績就只有「雙非嬰兒」。支持文化及創意產業，政府口惠而實不至 ── 28.23億(再加上「創意香港」的3億基金)，原來還不到整個財政預算1%！將出任台灣首任文化部部長的龍應台，在1999年出任台北市首任文化局局長的時候，沒有增加預算，卻從政府手上拿出各種閒置空間，供藝文團體使用。韓國首爾，則更改大學路附近劇場區的土地用途，業主出租地牢和天台租予藝文團體，可豁差餉。類似妙計，我們都向政府提議過，卻因為沒有文化局沒有被認真考慮。

我們的訴求：
還我選票！不要無能議員！
─「體育，演藝，文化及出版」功能界別「文化小組」立即接受個人選民登記
─　鼓勵有熱誠的人為文化界在立法會發聲，為香港爭取一個有利文化發展的環境

選民登記問答：

1. 前年至選完藝發局？仲要登記？
   雖然文化界選民其中一項資格「獲香港藝術發展局批予資金、贊助金或演出費用」，與藝發局選舉相同。但藝發局並不會主動把你的資格轉予選舉事務處。你必須自行登記。
   
   
2. 選舉事務處啱啱寄信黎話可以選超級區議會功能組別喎？
   超級區議會只供不屬於任何功能組別的市民投票，並且不需主動申請。故此你可以先嘗試登記成為文化界選民，要是失敗了，你還是可以投票給超級區議會功能組別的。
   
   
3. 我雖然攞過資助，但不屬於任何團體，我可以登記嗎？
   上面已經解釋過，政府大細超，只有演藝及出版界的朋友擁有個人票。故此，我們建議大家表照填，待選舉事務處把你的申請退回後，我們綜合起失敗個案，來告訴大家這個制度的荒謬。請盡快填妥「REO-41」表格(http://www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/reo-41.pdf)，選舉事務處會於大約10個工作天內書面回覆你的申請。
   
   
4. 我是註冊社團，又攞過藝發局、康文署資助，咁我得唔得？ 恭
   喜你！你填妥「REO – 42」表格(http://www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/reo-42.pdf)。請在團體內選一名信得過的代表，選舉當日為大家投下神聖的一票。

雖然功能組別千瘡百孔，我們還是希望大家遵守遊戲規則。保障你的法律權益，本單張僅供參考。請細閱選舉事務處網頁(http://www.eac.gov.hk/ch/about/chairman.htm)，尤其「說明書 申請登記為功能界別選民及選舉委員會界別分組投票人體育、演藝、文化及出版界」(REO-GN1(2011)-SPCP) (http://www.reo.gov.hk/pdf/gn/spcp_c.pdf)。

關注組是否已有人選爭奪下屆席位？

我們正在游說一些人士，但更希望透過引起藝術界對政策的關注，有更多有志之士參選。我們歡迎任何願意與業界溝通的人走出來。