The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice David Lok, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, together with EAC members Mr Arthur Luk, SC, and Professor Daniel Shek, today (December 16) inspected the on-site rehearsal of the electoral staff at the polling station and central counting station for the 2022 Legislative Council Election Committee constituency (ECC) by-election at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
 
     Mr Justice Lok said that most of the preparatory work for the by-election is nearing completion. He thanked colleagues for their efforts and encouraged them to make their best endeavours to ensure that the poll and vote counting this Sunday (December 18) will be carried out smoothly and efficiently.
 
     "The ECC polling station and the counting zone in the central counting station of the by-election are located in Hall 3E and 3D on 3/F, HKCEC, respectively. We appeal to not more than 1 500 Election Committee (EC) members to vote from 9am to 11.30am on the polling day to elect four members of the Legislative Council ECC," said Mr Justice Lok.
 
     On the polling day, staff from various departments will perform duties as electoral staff. The EAC encouraged them to step up training to familiarise themselves with details of the procedures and arrangements.
 
     The Electronic Poll Register (EPR) system will be used for issuing ballot papers at the ECC polling station. EC members need to present the original of their Hong Kong permanent identity card or other specified alternative documents to the polling staff for collecting ballot papers. Adopting the "block vote" voting system, each EC member must elect exactly four candidates, or the ballot paper is regarded as invalid. The four candidates who obtain the greatest number of votes shall be returned in the by-election. After the close of poll, all ballot boxes will be delivered to the counting zone of the central counting station and the votes will be counted with the use of an optical mark recognition (OMR) system.
 
     The REO held a number of online briefing and hands-on training sessions for polling and counting staff. Through simulated scenarios, the staff could familiarise themselves with the workflow and response in the event of contingencies. The training sessions covered each and every procedure, including the set-up and preparatory work for the polling station and central counting station, operation and contingency measures of the EPR system, steps immediately after the close of poll, delivery and receipt of ballot boxes, sorting and visual screening of ballot papers, electronic counting of votes by OMR machines and procedures for determination of questionable ballot papers so as to ensure accuracy while enhancing efficiency, co-ordination and responsiveness of the electoral staff, and make comprehensive preparations for the by-election.
 
     The EAC will closely monitor the conduct of the by-election on the polling day, ensuring that the by-election will be conducted in an open, fair and honest manner.

Ends/Friday, December 16, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:47

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