The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The 2022 Legislative Council Election Committee constituency by-election will be held on December 18 (Sunday). The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice David Lok, inspected the hands-on training session organised by the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (November 29) to see the training provided to the electoral staff of the central counting station.
 
     Mr Justice Lok said that, after the close of the poll, all ballot boxes will be delivered to the central counting station located at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Counting of votes will take place with the use of an optical mark recognition (OMR) system. More than 150 counting staff will be engaged in the entire counting process. Hands-on training and simulated activities would enable the counting staff to get familiar with the details of the counting arrangements, which are conducive to the smooth conduct of the count.
 
     Members of the EAC Mr Arthur Luk, SC, and Professor Daniel Shek were also present in the visit to the training session.
 
     The REO has been conducting hands-on training sessions for staff of the central counting station. The training sessions cover all counting procedures including the receipt of ballot boxes, sorting and visual screening of ballot papers, electronic counting of votes by OMR machines, procedures for determination of questionable ballot papers, and measures in the event of contingencies.
 
     The REO will continue to arrange various types of training, including briefing sessions and on-site simulated training for staff working in polling stations and the central counting station. The training aims to enhance the staff's understanding of each work procedure to ensure a smooth workflow, while at the same time strengthen their co-ordination and response capabilities for more comprehensive preparations for the by-election.

Ends/Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:05

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