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The list of 837 validly nominated candidates for the 2003 District Council Election is gazetted today (October 24).
Candidates in 74 of the 400 constituencies have been elected unopposed. The remaining 326 seats in the 18 District Councils will be contested by 763 candidates.
A total of 422 polling stations will be open from 7.30am to 10.30pm on polling day (November 23) for about 2.418 million registered electors to cast their vote, a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said.
The remaining 555,534 electors in the uncontested constituencies registered on the 2003 electoral roll do not have to vote, he added.
"We are producing leaflets with the photographs, personal particulars and platforms of the candidates.
"These leaflets will be sent to every elector in the 326 contested constituencies to enable them to know more about the candidates of their own constituency," the spokesman said.
A poll card, a map indicating the location of the designated polling station, a voting guide, a leaflet from the Independent Commission Against Corruption on clean and fair elections as well as a letter from District Officers appealing to voters to exercise their civic rights will be sent to the electors starting next week.
The spokesman said voting was very simple.
"Just bring your Hong Kong identity card to your designated polling station. You will be given a chop bearing a 'tick' to mark the ballot paper. Press the chop in the circle opposite the name of the candidate of your choice. Never use a pen to mark the ballot paper. It will invalidate your vote," he explained.
The number of candidates, contested seats and registered electors in the 326 contested constituencies of the 18 districts are:
District Candidates Seats Electors
Central & Western: 28 13 81,198
Wan Chai: 22 10 56,670
Eastern: 62 28 225,772
Southern: 27 11 80,813
Yau Tsim Mong: 38 14 85,685
Sham Shui Po: 42 18 119,869
Kowloon City: 53 22 148,213
Wong Tai Sin: 46 19 177,675
Kwun Tong: 63 27 215,103
Tsuen Wan: 35 15 101,164
Tuen Mun: 53 23 182,753
Yuen Long: 57 23 147,149
North: 31 14 110,781
Tai Po: 39 17 127,127
Sai Kung: 37 16 125,334
Sha Tin: 59 27 215,317
Kwai Tsing: 56 23 187,150
Islands: 15 6 30,305
Territory total: 763 326 2,418,078
Electors in the uncontested constituencies will receive a notice of uncontested nomination and a leaflet introducing the elected candidate of their respective constituency by next month.
Ends/Friday, October 24, 2003
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