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Legislative Council New Territories East geographical constituency by-election poll cards mailed to some 940 000 electors
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     The Legislative Council New Territories East geographical constituency by-election will be held on February 28. The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has mailed poll cards to about 940 000 registered electors to inform them of where they should cast their votes on polling day.

     "Electors may only cast their votes at the designated polling station as specified on their poll card. They are advised to note the address of the designated polling station on their poll card to ensure that they go to the correct polling station," a spokesman for the REO said today (February 19).

     "Electors of the New Territories East geographical constituency may also log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (OVIES) (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) anytime to check the name and address of the designated polling station, its location on the map and other polling information such as the polling date and polling hours," he said.

     Together with the poll card, the REO has mailed to every New Territories East geographical constituency elector a map indicating the location of the designated polling station, a voting procedure guide, an introductory leaflet on the candidates and a leaflet from the Independent Commission Against Corruption on clean elections.

     "Electors can call the election hotline on 2891 1001 if they have not yet received their poll card, or log in to the OVIES to check their designated polling stations, " he said.

     "Electors should bring their identity document to the designated polling station to cast their votes. They are also advised to bring their poll card to assist the polling staff in verifying whether they are visiting the designated polling station allocated to them," the spokesman said.

     A total of 146 ordinary polling stations at the New Territories East geographical constituency will be open on the polling day for about 940 000 electors listed on the 2015 Final Register to cast their votes. The polling hours for the ordinary polling stations and the dedicated polling station set up at Tin Sum Police Station will be from 7.30am to 10.30pm. For the dedicated polling stations set up in penal institutions, for security reasons, the polling hours will be from 9am to 4pm.

     Once the poll closes, most polling stations will be converted into counting stations. All counting stations will be open to the public once the count commences. Members of the public will be able to observe the counting process at designated areas inside the counting stations. A media centre will be set up at Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre, 2 Chui Ling Road, Tseung Kwan O, where the Returning Officer will announce the by-election results. An area with a seating capacity for about 600 has been reserved for members of the public to watch the announcement of results. Admission from 11pm will be arranged on a first come, first served basis.

     Measures have been taken by the REO to facilitate electors with special needs to exercise their right to vote.

     "In this by-election, around 90 per cent of the polling stations are accessible to electors with mobility difficulty or those who use wheelchairs. If required and possible, the REO will install temporary ramps at polling stations to facilitate them," the spokesman said.

     The location map enclosed with the poll card specifies clearly whether the designated polling station is accessible to electors who are wheelchair users or have mobility difficulty.

     "Electors with mobility difficulty or those who use wheelchairs may apply to the REO by February 23 (next Tuesday) (i.e. at least five days before the polling day) through the election hotline (2891 1001), fax (2891 1180) or email (reoenq@reo.gov.hk) for re-allocation to another polling station in case they have been allocated to a polling station inaccessible to them. If possible, the REO will also arrange rehab buses to take them to and from polling stations upon request," he said.

     In addition, the Electoral Affairs Commission encourages candidates to provide a text version of their introduction to enable electors with visual impairment to know the content by using software aids. The text versions provided by candidates have been uploaded to the election website. Electors with visual impairment may also listen to the candidates' introductions by calling the dedicated telephone line 2893 3762. Braille templates will be provided at polling stations to assist electors with visual impairment to vote.

     To help ethnic minority electors who are not familiar with Chinese and English cast their votes, guides on voting procedure in seven ethnic minority languages (Thai, Hindi, Bahasa Indonesia, Nepali, Punjabi, Urdu and Tagalog) will be available at every polling station. Information on the by-election in the said languages has also been uploaded to the election website.

     The REO has also made arrangements with the Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents run by the Hong Kong Christian Service to provide a telephone simultaneous interpretation service with the seven languages to help ethnic minorities make enquiries to the REO on election matters during the two weeks prior to and on the polling day.

     A pictorial voting aid showing the voting procedure will also be provided at polling stations to help electors with hearing impairment and electors who are not familiar with Chinese and English to understand the voting procedure.

     Information about the by-election is available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.

Ends/Friday, February 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:12

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