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A total of 496 polling stations will be open to about 2.8 million electors for 15 hours from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm on Sunday, May 24, to enable them to cast their votes in the Legislative Council election.

The locations of the polling stations are listed in the gazette today (Friday). Internet users may view the list on the Hong Kong SAR Government website.

Apart from four polling stations designated for the 800 members of the Election Committee, the other 492 polling stations will serve electors of five geographical constituencies and 18 functional constituencies.

Candidates from 10 functional constituencies have already been returned uncontested.

A spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said that every geographical constituency (GC) elector would be assigned to a polling station near his home.

"If he is also a functional constituency (FC) elector or an authorised representative of a corporate elector, he may cast all his votes at the same GC station," he said.

Ninety-two of the GC polling stations are in the Hong Kong Island Constituency, 67 in the Kowloon West Constituency, 79 in the Kowloon East Constituency, 137 in the New Territories West Constituency and 117 in the New Territories East Constituency.

Members of the Election Committee may cast all their votes in any one of the four designated polling stations in Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.

"We shall send a poll card and a map to every elector around 10 days before polling day telling them in detail when and where to vote. Electors who do not receive their poll cards by May 18 may call 2588 1212," the spokesman said.

"The mail will also include a leaflet carrying personal particulars and platforms of candidates, a voting guide and a special souvenir - a commemorative card.

"After a GC elector casts his vote, he will be given a second commemorative card, which makes a complete set with the first card, together with a card holder," he said.

A total of 195 polling stations accessible to disabled electors are designated as special polling stations.

An elector having a disability may apply to the Registration and Electoral Office by calling 2588 1212 no later than May 19 for voting at a special polling station designated for his constituency.

In another notice gazetted today, it is announced that Exhibition Hall 1 on Level 2 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, will be used as the central counting station.

Ballot boxes from all the 496 polling stations will be delivered there for the counting of votes after the close of polling at 10.30 pm on May 24.

End/Friday, May 1, 1998

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