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Following is the transcript of the remarks by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, to the media after visiting a Southern District Council By-election polling station set up at the Caritas Wu Cheng-chung Secondary School in Pokfulam this morning (September 5):
Today we have a by-election in the Southern District. The work and the roles of the District Councils have been strengthened since early 2008. The Government has allocated extra resources to the District Councils to conduct activities and to provide services within their respective districts. Resources have also been allocated to District Councils to extend their work in respect of local public works projects.
So far as this particular by-election is concerned, we have observed that political parties have taken an even greater interest in this particular by-election. This is because since the 2012 constitutional development package was approved by the Legislative Council at the end of June this year, the community has noted henceforth District Councillors will play an even greater role in the election of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council. It is therefore very natural that for political parties which support particular candidates in this by-election and including those political parties which have not taken a direct participation this time round to be all quite interested in the outcome of this by-election.
There are over 5,000 registered voters in this constituency. So far as this morning's voting situation is concerned, up to 9.30 am, we have had a turnout rate of 1.25 per cent. This is in relative term lower than the hourly turnout rate back in November 2007. We would therefore urge all registered voters to come out and vote until 10.30 pm tonight. It is very important that registered voters exercise their civic rights and play a part in this particular by-election so that we would have an elected representative who is widely supported by members of the public in this constituency.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, September 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:40
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