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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee, today (December 8) reminded voters that voters should follow the proper procedures when voting at the Election Committee (EC) subsector elections on Sunday (December 10).
Voters should shade the ovals opposite the names of their chosen candidates on the ballot papers with the pen provided, and put the marked ballot paper into the envelope before dropping it into the ballot box.
"Do not fold the ballot paper and the envelope," he said.
Mr Justice Pang this afternoon visited a mock polling station set up at Wong Tai Sin Community Hall for the EC subsector elections ahead of the polls on Sunday.
The mock polling station is open to voters for them to get familiar with the voting procedures.
There are five more mock polling stations across Hong Kong - in Hong Kong Park Sports Centre, Mong Kok Community Hall, Kwai Fong Community Hall, Tai Po Community Centre and the Election Information Centre in Wan Chai.
The mock polling station at the Electoral Information Centre in Wan Chai was open from November 27 to December 8. All the other mock polling stations will remain open until 8pm tomorrow.
"Large scale publicity consisting of posters and advertisements in TV, radio, newspapers, MTR and KCR stations has been launched to call on voters and authorised representatives concerned to vote on Sunday," Mr Justice Pang said.
The advertisements also contain illustrations on the proper voting procedures.
Mr Justice Pang reminded voters not to use mobile phones or pagers, not to take photograph, and not to do filming and video or audio recording inside polling stations, to protect the secrecy of votes. These are offences punishable by fines and imprisonment.
A total of 803 candidates are competing for 427 seats in 23 contested subsectors/sub-subsector at the Sunday polls. A list of the contested subsectors/sub-subsector can be found in attachment (A).
Another 237 candidates have already been returned to the EC from 15 uncontested subsectors/sub-subsectors. A list of the uncontested subsectors/sub-subsectors can be found in attachment (B).
The six designated bodies in the Religious Subsector have nominated another 40 members to the Election Committee.
The Election Committee also consists of 96 ex-officio members - Hong Kong deputies to the National Peopleˇ¦s Congress and members of the Legislative Council.
One hundred and ten polling stations across Hong Kong will be open from 7.30am to 10.30pm on Sunday for about 204,000 registered voters in the contested subsectors/sub-subsector to cast their votes.
Voters can call 2891 1001 for enquiries, and call 2827 7251 for complaints.
Ends/Friday, December 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:38
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