The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice David Lok, chaired the first meeting of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) this afternoon (December 16). The EAC is working with different bureaux and departments in preparation for the Legislative Council Election Committee constituency (ECC) by-election, drawing up security and crisis management plans to deal with different circumstances that may arise during the by-election to be held on December 18 (Sunday).
 
     Mr Justice Lok said in the meeting, "Given the epidemic situation and to reduce the flow of people at the ECC polling station, a suggested time slot has been assigned to the Election Committee (EC) members, according to the five EC sectors to which they belong, to vote at the ECC polling station. The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has delivered to each EC member a poll card and other electoral documents, including the Introduction to Candidates leaflet and a layout plan of the ECC polling station and the central counting station (including the media centre). The packet also included an EC member name badge."
 
     An EC member name badge carries the EC member's name and photo, and his or her exclusive QR code for identification. Every name badge also has a laser sticker affixed to prevent counterfeiting. The EC members should bring along the name badge to enter the areas relevant to this by-election in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Every entrant (including the EC members) to the venue has to go through a simple security check.
 
     In addition, in light of COVID-19, the REO will implement a number of anti-epidemic measures in the ECC polling station and central counting station. EC members with fever or respiratory symptoms will be directed to a special voting compartment to vote. Concerning the arrangements in the central counting station (including the media centre), all entrants except the exempted persons must comply with the requirements of the Vaccine Pass. 
 
     Mr Justice Lok pointed out that the CMC will assist the EAC to closely monitor the situation on the polling day and will handle situations in which the by-election is affected by different incidents.
 
     During the meeting, the EAC was briefed by representatives from the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and relevant government departments, including the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Hong Kong Police Force, on the assessment of different situations and deployment planned for the polling day. The Security Bureau, the REO, the Information Services Department and the Department of Justice also briefed the meeting on the preparatory and co-ordination work regarding the by-election.
 
     The EAC thanked all relevant bureaux and departments for their efforts in the preparations and arrangements for the by-election, and said that today's meeting helped it get better prepared and formulate contingency plans for the Legislative Council ECC by-election to be held on December 18.
 
     The CMC is part of the contingency mechanism for public elections. The CMC advises the EAC on matters that may affect the proceedings of the elections, such as inclement weather and issues of public health and safety. The Committee is chaired by the EAC Chairman, and comprises EAC members, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (or his representative) and representatives of relevant bureaux/departments.

Ends/Friday, December 16, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:25

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