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The 2007 Voter Registration Exercise for the Village Representative Elections was launched today (June 25) and will continue until July 30.
A spokesman for the Home Affairs Department said that as registers of voters for the Indigenous Inhabitant Representative and the Resident Representative Elections were compiled and updated annually, eligible people who had not registered and wanted to have their names on this year's register were reminded to register as electors by July 30.
An Indigenous Inhabitant Representative, returned by indigenous inhabitants or their spouses of an Indigenous/ Composite Indigenous Village, is to reflect views on the affairs on behalf of the indigenous inhabitants of the village and to deal with all affairs relating to the lawful traditional rights and interests and the traditional way of life of those indigenous inhabitants.
A Resident Representative, returned by residents (both indigenous and non-indigenous inhabitants) of an Existing Village, is to reflect views on the affairs on behalf of the resident of the village. A Resident Representative will not deal with any affairs relating to the lawful traditional rights and interests of indigenous inhabitants.
"There are different eligibility requirements for registration as voters for these elections," the spokesman said.
"Indigenous inhabitants and their spouses, aged 18 or above and holding recognised identity documents, are eligible to be registered as voters in the Indigenous Inhabitant Representative Election of an Indigenous/ Composite Indigenous Village. For registration as voters in the Resident Representative Election, one must be a Hong Kong permanent resident aged 18 or above and have been a resident of the Existing Village for the three years immediately before the date of application for registration and whose address in the village is his/her principal residential address."
He also reminded indigenous inhabitants of indigenous inhabitants of an Indigenous/ Composite Indigenous Village, or their spouses who were now living in an Existing Village for three years or more immediately before registration, to submit two separate forms to register as an elector for both elections if they wished.
Completed voter registration forms can be forwarded in person, by post, by fax or by electronic means (a digital signature supported by a recognised certificate is required) and should reach the department or any District Offices on or before July 30 this year, Hong Kong time.
Voter registration forms can be obtained at all Public Enquiry Service Centres of the District Offices, HKSAR overseas offices or downloaded from the Village Representative Elections website at www.had.gov.hk/vre.
The department will mount a publicity campaign through various means including posters, leaflets, banners, advertisements in newspapers and the Village Representative Elections website, to remind all those eligible, including those living overseas, to register as voters.
For enquiries, please call the hotline at 2152 1521.
Ends/Monday, June 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 10:30
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