An unprecedented publicity campaign to win maximum voter registration for the Legislative Council elections next May was kicked off today by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at Hong Kong Park.

Addressing some 900 Voter Registration Ambassadors (VRAs) and an audience which included representatives from nearly all local political parties, the two provisional municipal councils, the 18 provisional district boards and various charitable and public organisations, Mr Tung said some two million households would be the target of VRAs in their campaign to register eligible voters.

"I believe this massive exercise, which will involve the mobilization of 30,000 VRAs, will not only help in achieving maximum voter turnout. The experience itself will serve as an excellent civic education for all concerned," Mr Tung said.

"As most of the VRAs are students of secondary schools, the crucial role they would play during the Voter Registration Week starting today should also give them a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for helping to effect an important election which is fair and open," he added.

Mr Tung also appealed to all members of the public to support and participate in the Voter Registration Campaign. He said: "This is a golden opportunity for us to show the world how we put the concept of 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong' into actual practice."

As part of the kick-off ceremony, 900 of the VRAs were sworn-in by Mr Tung who led them in taking the Voter Registration Oath. The five VRA teams were also presented with banners to help publicise their message as they go about their rounds. Each team was given an opportunity to cheer their respective geographical constituency's slogan.

They were given an auspicious send-off by five ceremonial lions, who had their eyes dotted in a traditional ritual jointly performed by five principal officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government: the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan; the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang; the Secretary for Justice, Ms Elsie Leung; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan, and the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael Suen.

VRAs representing each of the 18 districts, led by Mr Lan, then boarded an open-top bus to make the first house calls to register eligible voters in Yiu Tung Estate in Shau Kei Wan.