HONG KONG, Oct. 31 -- The head of Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Thursday that the ICAC has received 77 complaints in relation to the upcoming District Council Election, calling for upholding a clean and fair election despite the recent social unrest.

As of Thursday, the ICAC has received 77 complaints in relation to the upcoming District Council Election, in which 76 are pursuable, Commissioner of ICAC Simon Peh said.

The complaints mainly involve using force or duress against candidates, publishing false or misleading statements about a candidate, and bribing electors, according to Peh.

These behaviors might constitute breaches of the electoral law, according to the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), he warned.

The 2019 District Council Ordinary Election of the HKSAR is scheduled to be held in November.

"With the District Council Election approaching, the ICAC would like to reiterate to the community that Hong Kong has all along had a very good election culture. The ICAC has always striven to uphold clean elections," Peh said.

"In this difficult time, Hong Kong society is facing unprecedented challenges. In view of the social incidents in recent months, the public may have doubts on whether the integrity of the District Council Election would be affected by the social unrest and disruptive acts caused by those with opposing views," he pointed out.

Despite all the challenges, the ICAC would remain dedicated to safeguard clean and fair elections, and all the election-related complaints and referrals received by the ICAC would be pursued in strict accordance with the law and in a professional and serious manner, Peh said.

"The ICAC calls on all candidates, their election agents and helpers, and members of the public to uphold a clean and fair election and avoid breaching the electoral law inadvertently," he added.