**********************************************
A designated public area containing about 1,000 seats has been reserved for members of the public to observe on-site vote counting and the announcement of results at the Central Counting Station of the 2012 Legislative Council Election at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Admission is arranged on a first come, first served basis. The arrangements were announced on the election website and in a press release issued on September 8. There is also a designated area for candidates and agents.
At about 5.30am today (September 10), as the public area had reached its full capacity, the REO issued a press release and uploaded a message on the election website urging the public not to go to the Central Counting Station.
Later, about 200 people requested in vain to enter the public area, to which the admission of more people was not allowed for safety reasons as it had reached full capacity. However, they pushed and shoved outside in an attempt to storm into the venue.
The REO, which was monitoring the situation in the public area, noted that some members of the public started leaving the Central Counting Station after the announcement of election results for geographical constituencies, vacating sufficient seats for the admission of other people. The REO then arranged for them to enter the venue in batches to watch the continuing vote count and announcement of election results.
The vote count and announcement of results are important parts of the election. The REO has tried its best to arrange a safe environment for the maximum number of members of the public to watch the procedures on-site, having regard to the condition of the venue. The REO appeals for public understanding and co-operation to ensure the orderly conduct of the election.
Ends/Monday, September 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:12
NNNN