131 votes cast in first hour of Kwun Tong DC by-election
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   131 electors (1.81%) had voted in the first hour of the Kwun Tong District Council Kai Yip Constituency by-election, which started at 7.30am today (May 20) (the voter turnout figures are for temporary reference only).

     The polling station for the by-election, at Kai Yip Community Hall, Kai Yip Estate, Kwun Tong, is open until 10.30pm today for the constituency's more than 7,200 registered electors to cast their votes.

     Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee and commission member Professor Andrew Chan Chi-fai will inspect the polling station.

     The two candidates contesting the by-election are: No 1, Frederick Lam Fai; and No 2, Sze Lun Hung.

     A spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office urged electors to cast their votes as early as possible.

     "Voting is very simple. It takes only a few minutes," he said.

     "All a voter needs to do is to show his/her identity card at the polling station, and then use the chop provided to stamp the ballot paper with a tick in the circle opposite the candidate of his/her choice before putting it into the ballot box."

     The polling station for the by-election will be converted into a counting station once the poll is closed. People are welcome to watch the counting of votes at the designated area outside the counting zone. The results of the poll will also be announced there.

     An election hotline, 2891 1001, will operate until 11pm to answer enquiries about electoral matters, including the location of the polling station.

     Another hotline, 2827 7251, will be in service until 10.30pm to handle complaints about breaches of electoral rules and guidelines.

Ends/Sunday, May 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 08:58

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