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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

A total of 501 polling stations across Hong Kong are open from 7.30am to 10.30pm today (September 12) for about 3.2 million electors to cast their votes in the 2004 Legislative 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 a round of inspection at various polling stations, Mr Justice Woo said: "Voting is a fundamental civil right, and Hong Kong people should be proud to exercise it."

"In fact, voting 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 or list of candidates of your choice. Don't write anything on the ballot paper," he said.

Mr Justice Woo and the other two members of the Commission, Mr Norman Leung and Dr Elizabeth Shing, will go in three separate routes to inspect polling stations across Hong Kong to see how electoral activities are conducted.

Electors who do not have a poll card with them may call the election hotline - 2891 1001 - to enquire about where they would vote. The hotline has 105 telephone lines in operation until 10.30pm tonight.

The Commission has also set up a complaint hotline, 2827 7251, with 10 telephone lines to receive public complaints on breaches of electoral guidelines. Its service hours will extend till the polls close at 10.30pm. The Commission will continue to receive complaints in the next 45 days.

Mr Justice Woo reminded electors not to use their mobile phone or undertake any photographing inside a polling station.

"This is to ensure secrecy of the ballot and thus the integrity and fairness of the election," he added.

A total of 35 lists of 88 candidates are running for the 30 seats in the five geographical constituencies while another 60 candidates are competing for the 19 seats in the 17 functional constituencies. Eleven other functional constituencies have their candidates elected unopposed.

Mr Justice Woo urged candidates and their canvassing agents to observe the election guidelines at all times and compete fairly.

"Candidates should respect the privacy of other people and refrain from causing nuisances and inconveniences to them when conducting their canvassing activities," he said.

There are 985 complaints in relation to electioneering activities up to September 10 (Friday). Among them, 393 were received by the Registration and Electoral Office (REO), 166 by the Returning Officers, 57 by the ICAC and 369 by the Police.

Of the 393 complaints filed to the REO, 113 cases are about election advertisements, 44 about electioneering activities in private premises and 51 about disturbances to electors caused by canvassing activities.

Ends/Sunday, September 12, 2004

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