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A polling station will be open to the public visit a day before electors go to the polls in the 2003 District Council election on November 23 (Sunday).
Located at Kowloon Park Sports Centre, 22 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the polling station will be open from 10am to 8pm on Saturday (November 22).
A spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said members of the public might be interested in learning the set-up of a polling station before they cast their vote.
"The ballot is secret. No one is allowed to enter a polling station during polling hours except electors, candidates and their election agents who have to observe the conduct of the poll, as well as officials on duty," he said.
"We are making this special arrangement for the public to see in advance facilities in a polling station. It is our duty to ensure electoral arrangements are open and transparent," he added.
Staff of the Registration and Electoral Office will explain to visitors how to vote.
"Voting in fact is 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. All you have to do is to press the chop once in the circle opposite the name of the candidate of your choice," the spokesman said.
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 423 polling stations will be open from 7.30am to 10.30pm for about 2.4 million registered electors to cast their vote.
Ends/ Wednesday, November 19, 2003
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