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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, urged a group of 18-year-old youngsters to register as electors at a birthday party held at Government House today (Sunday).

The party marks the official launch of the two-month voter registration campaign which will start from tomorrow (Monday).

Mr Tung hoped the young people would seize opportunity to sign up as electors.

By signing up, people can vote in future elections, including the Legislative Council (LegCo) election to be held in September this year.

Attending the party were 155 youngsters who will have turned 18, the qualifying age of an elector, within this month. They responded enthusiastically to Mr Tung's call and signed up on the spot.

Over the next two months, about 3 000 voter registration assistants (VRAs) will knock on the doors of the two million households in the territory. They will help eligible electors to fill in registration forms, or verify the records of registered electors on the electoral rolls.

The VRAs will put on khaki vests and a special badge for identification.

In addition, temporary counters will also be set up in public areas to convenience those who want to register.

Apart from helping electors for geographical constituencies to get registered, the campaign is also targetted at electors for functional constituencies and for Election Committee sub-sectors. Appeal letters will be issued to the prospective electorate.

Eligible electors must get registered on or before March 16 to vote in the next LegCo election.

Also present at today's party were artistes Nichloas Tse and Joey Yung, conductor Yip Wing-sie and fencing athlete Ho Ka-lai.

They will assist in other publicity exercise, such as featuring in the Television Announcements in Public Interest, posters and leaflets, to urge eligible voters to get registered.

Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, officiated at the Kick-off Ceremony for the 2000 Voter Registration Campaign at Government House. Picture shows Mr Tung giving a speech to encourage young people who have reached the age of 18 to register as electors.

End/Sunday, January 16, 2000

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