31 votes cast in first hour of Tai Po DC by-election
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   Thirty-one electors (0.67%) had voted in the first hour of the Tai Po District Council Hong Lok Yuen constituency by-election, which started at 7.30am today (June 10) (the voter turnout figures are for temporary reference only).

     Three polling stations are open until 10.30pm today for the constituency・s 4,626 registered electors to cast their votes. They are located at Kai Chi School, Tai Po Tau, Tai Po; Yuk Yin School, Kau Lung Hang, Tai Po; and Hong Lok Yuen International School, Tai Po.
   
     Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee and member Mr Lawrence Lok Ying-kam, SC will inspect the polling stations.

     The two candidates contesting the by-election are: No 1, Ho Kwok Keung; and No 2, Tang Yau Fat.

     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 identity card at the polling stations, and then use the chop provided to stamp the ballot paper with a .tick・ in the circle opposite the candidate of his choice before putting it into the ballot box.;

     The three polling stations will be converted into counting stations once the poll is closed. People are welcome to watch the counting of votes at the designated area outside the counting zone of a counting station. The election results will be announced at the dominant counting station at Kai Chi School.

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

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

Ends/Sunday, June 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 08:40

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