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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
A total of 423 polling stations across Hong Kong are open from 7.30am to 10.30pm today (November 23) for about 2.4 million electors to cast their vote in the 2003 District Council Election.
The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, who had already cast his vote this morning, called on electors to go to the polls as early as possible.
Speaking at the Press Centre before setting off for an inspection round of polling stations, Mr Justice Woo said: "Voting is in fact very simple. It takes you only a few minutes to exercise your right."
"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," he said.
Mr Justice Woo and the other two members of the Commission, Mr Norman Leung and Dr Elizabeth Shing, will go on three separate routes to inspect various polling stations in the 18 Districts to see how electoral activities are conducted.
Electors who do not have a poll card with them or have lost it may call the election hotline - 2891 1001 - to enquire about where they should vote. A total of 80 telephone lines are operating until 10.30pm tonight.
The Commission has also set up 10 telephone lines - 2827 7251 - to receive public complaints on breaches of electoral guidelines. The services will be extended today until 10.30pm when the polls close. The Commission will continue to receive complaints in the next 45 days.
Mr Justice Woo urged candidates and their campaign assistants to be cautious in conducting canvassing activities.
"We hope they will observe the rules and compete fairly," he said.
The Commission has received 508 complaints about electoral activities since October 2. They include 127 complaints about election advertisements, 132 about electioneering activities in private premises and 76 about false statements.
End/Sunday, November 23, 2003
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