Provisional registers of electors and omissions lists released today for public inspection (with photo)
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     The provisional registers of electors and omissions lists were released today (July 31) for public inspection until August 25.

     About 3.69 million registered electors are contained in the 2015 provisional register for geographical constituencies, which represents a net increase of about 182 000 electors when compared to last year, after taking into account about 261 000 who are newly registered and removing the names of about 32 000 and 47 000 electors that have been put on the omissions list due to death or as a result of the inquiry process respectively.

     For functional constituencies, about 3.41 million registered electors in the District Council (second) functional constituency are listed in the provisional register, whereas for the other functional constituencies, the number of registered electors is about 229 000. These figures have taken into account newly registered electors, electors who have changed to register between the District Council (second) functional constituency and other functional constituencies, and electors entering onto the omissions list due to death or as a result of the inquiry process.

     "In addition to the applications for new registration, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has so far received applications for updating particulars from about 370 000 registered electors. The respective provisional registers include all validated applications for registration as electors and applications for changes of particulars received," an REO spokesman said.

     To enhance the accuracy and completeness of the information in the voter registers, the REO has earlier issued inquiry letters to about 82 000 electors by registered mail in accordance with the relevant electoral laws, requiring them to confirm or update their registered addresses.

     About 47 000 electors did not respond to the inquiry letters by the deadline. The REO has therefore in accordance with the laws removed them from the registers concerned and put them onto the omissions lists.

     "The REO will issue reminder letters today to those electors who have been put on the omissions list to remind them once again to take appropriate remedial actions. The envelope (sample envelope attached) is beige in colour and stamped with a red reminder message, 'Immediate action required. Your voting right is at stake.' The letter seeks to remind the recipients to confirm or update their registered residential addresses by returning the reply slip by August 25. Upon approval by the Revising Officer, their names and residential addresses will be included in the final register," the spokesman said.

     "The statutory deadline for updating registration particulars falls on August 25 this year. We appeal to registered electors who have changed residential address to fulfil their civic responsibility by notifying the REO by August 25 so that the REO can update their records accordingly."

     The REO appeals to members of the public to log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk), or call the REO hotline on 2891 1001, to check their own registration particulars and whether they are listed on the omissions lists.

     Anyone who has applied to be registered as an elector but does not find his name in the relevant register, or whose name is on the omissions lists, or who finds his particulars incorrectly recorded, may lodge a claim in person with the REO.

     If anyone considers that a registered person is not eligible to be registered, he may lodge an objection in person with the REO.

     "The statutory deadline for lodging a claim or objection is August 25. The Revising Officer will consider the evidence provided by the applicant to make a ruling in accordance with the legislation," the spokesman said.

     The specified forms for claims and objections can be obtained from the REO (10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, or 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay) and all District Offices. They can also be downloaded from the REO website (www.reo.gov.hk/en/voter/application.htm).

     For the geographical constituencies and the District Council (second) functional constituency, full copies of the provisional register can be inspected during ordinary business hours at the REO on 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. The relevant section of the register pertinent to a particular district is available for public inspection at the respective District Office during its business hours from Monday to Friday. As regards the omissions list for the geographical constituencies and the District Council (second) functional constituency, full copies are available for public inspection at the REO's Harbour Centre office and all District Offices.

     For functional constituencies (other than the District Council (second) functional constituency) and Election Committee subsectors, full copies of the provisional registers and omissions lists are available during ordinary business hours for public inspection at the REO's Harbour Centre office and its office on 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay. They can also be inspected at the District Offices in Central, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin during their business hours from Monday to Friday.

     The REO's ordinary business hours are from 9am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays.

     Statistical information about the provisional registers is available on the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk).

     The REO will publish the final registers of electors on or before September 25.

Ends/Friday, July 31, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:12

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