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The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (June 23) urged eligible persons who have not yet registered as electors to submit their applications by July 2, so that they can vote in the District Council Election to be held on November 22 this year.
"Hong Kong permanent residents holding an identity document who have reached the age of 18 years and are ordinarily residing in Hong Kong are eligible to be registered as electors," a spokesman for the REO said.
"Registered electors are not required to register again, but they are reminded to fulfil their civic responsibility by notifying the REO of any change in residential address or other registration particulars by the statutory deadline of August 25."
To maintain the integrity of the voter registration system, the REO is continuing to implement targeted checking measures in the current cycle to enhance the accuracy and completeness of information in the voter registers.
"The REO has earlier issued inquiry letters to about 82 000 electors by registered mail in accordance with the relevant electoral laws, requiring them to confirm or update their registered addresses by the deadline of July 2. 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'," the spokesman said.
The REO has tried to contact electors under inquiry who have yet to respond to the inquiry letters through different means, reminding them that they should respond to the inquiry letters as soon as possible.
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.
Forms for voter registration and reporting changes in registration particulars can be obtained from the REO, the District Offices and management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk).
Completed forms can be submitted by mail to the REO at 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, or by fax to 2891 1180.
Members of the public may log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) anytime to check whether they are a registered voter and whether their registered address is still their principal place of residence.
To save paper and protect the environment, voters are encouraged to provide or update their email addresses for receiving electoral messages.
Enquiries can be made to the REO hotline 2891 1001.
Ends/Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:01
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