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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
A total of 94 polling stations were all open at 7.30 am this (December 10) morning for more than 627,000 registered electors of Hong Kong Island to cast their vote in the Legislative Council Hong Kong Island by-election.
The Electoral Affairs Commission urged all registered electors to exercise their right to vote before polling ends at 10.30 pm tonight.
The Commission chairman, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, and the two Commission members, Mr Norman Leung Nai-pang and Dr Elizabeth Shing Shiu-ching, cast their vote earlier this morning before they started their journey to inspect polling activities throughout Hong Kong Island.
In the by-election, six candidates are contesting a Legislative Council seat. "Although this is a small-scale election to fill one Legislative Council seat, there is no let-up in our efforts. Every procedure has been conducted in accordance with the law and all electioneering activities are regulated by our Guidelines," Mr Justice Woo said.
"Do come forward to vote. Every vote counts. Every vote represents the voice of an elector and can affect election results," Mr Justice Woo made an appeal to voters at the polling station at Wan Chai Post Office.
"Voting is simple. All an elector needs to do is to bring along his identity card to his designated polling station listed on the poll card. He must use the chop provided by polling staff to stamp a tick in the circle opposite the name of one candidate of his choice on the ballot paper," he said.
Mr Justice Woo reminded electors to read carefully their poll card to find out whether their designated polling station was different from that in the general election in September.
About 90 per cent of the electors may vote at the same place as in September. Only about 10 per cent of the electors have been allocated to nine new polling stations.
"Notices have been put up at the old places that are no longer used as polling stations to direct electors to the right place in case they visit the wrong polling station. Electors may also call 2891 1001 to enquire," Mr Justice Woo said.
Thirty complaints about breaches of the Guidelines were received up to yesterday (December 9). Members of the public may report to Presiding Officers or the Returning Officer, or call the complaints hotline - 2827 7656 if they spot any irregularities. The Commission will continue to receive complaints in the next 45 days.
"It is our duty to ensure that the election is conducted fairly, openly and honestly so that electors can express their wish fairly and freely. We have accomplished our job in the recent general election, and we believe we can make it again," Mr Justice Woo said.
End/Sunday, December 10, 2000
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