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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, and a member of the Commission, Ms Elizabeth Shing, have a busy programme today (Thursday) inspecting a number of polling stations throughout Hong Kong.

They have seen how polling activities for the Election Committee subsector elections are going in Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Sheung Wan, Central and Wan Chai this morning.

During the five hours of polling up to 12.30 pm, 6,197 voters have cast their ballots, representing a turnout rate of 4.44 per cent.

About 140,000 voters can cast their votes at 90 polling stations from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm tonight to elect their representatives on the 800-member Election Committee.

More than 50 staff members of the Registration and Electoral Office are manning an election hotline and a complaints hotline from 7 am to 11 pm tonight to serve voters and candidates.

End/Thursday, April 2, 1998

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