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Electors reminded to respond to inquiry letters by statutory deadline
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     Registered electors who have received inquiry letters are urged to respond by the statutory deadline of July 2 so as to maintain their voter registration and ensure that they can vote in the District Council Election in November this year and subsequent public elections, a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) said today (June 9).

     To enhance the accuracy and completeness of the information in the voter registers, the REO issued inquiry letters to about 82 000 electors by registered mail in April and May this year in accordance with the relevant electoral laws, requiring the recipients to confirm or update their registered addresses. To date, the REO has received replies from about 14 000 of the electors under inquiry.

     "All inquiry letters had been issued by the end of May. To remind electors of the importance of the inquiry letters, all envelopes of the letters are stamped with the prominent reminder message, 'Important Document Please Reply Promptly'. Electors under inquiry are required to confirm or update their registered addresses by returning the reply slip on or before July 2," the spokesman said.

     As a further reminder to electors under inquiry to confirm or update their registered addresses by the statutory deadline, the REO is now contacting those who have yet to respond to the inquiry letters through different means, namely phone, email or fax.

     Among those electors who have yet to respond to the inquiry letters, some have not provided contact information apart from their residential addresses. The REO will collaborate with the Home Affairs Department to try reaching these electors. Voter Registration Supervisors/Assistants employed by the District Offices are conducting household visits to these electors and reminding them that they should respond to the inquiry letters as soon as possible.

     "The electors concerned should pay attention to the arrangements above. We also hope that housing estates can assist in facilitating the household visits," the spokesman said.

     If the REO does not receive replies from the electors under inquiry by the July 2 deadline, their names will be included in the Omissions List to be published on or before August 1. If the electors included in the Omissions List wish to maintain their voter registration, they will have to lodge a claim or update their registered addresses by August 25. Upon approval by the Revising Officer, their names will be included in the final register of electors to be published in September 2015 and they will then be able to cast votes in subsequent public elections.

     For enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001. Staff of the REO will provide assistance to the electors and explain the respective procedures.  Frequently Asked Questions on inquiry procedures have also been uploaded to the REO website (www.reo.gov.hk) and Voter Registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk) for public information.

Ends/Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:55

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