The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

     The Kaifong Representative (KFR) Election of the 2023 Rural Ordinary Election (ROE) was held today (January 15). The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice David Lok, visited the polling station and counting station for the Cheung Chau Market Town to observe the operation of polling and counting.

     Mr Justice Lok said, "EAC members Mr Arthur Luk, SC, and Professor Daniel Shek and I, together with Deputy Director of Home Affairs, Ms Eureka Cheung, visited the polling station at Cheung Chau Sports Centre. The electoral arrangements are generally in good order.

     "After the close of poll at 9.30pm, the ordinary polling station at Cheung Chau Sports Centre was immediately converted into a counting station. Due to a considerable number of seats, candidates and electors of the KFR Election, computer counting is adopted. The total number of votes of each candidate is consolidated by computer through the entry of the chosen candidate numbers on each ballot paper inputted separately by counting staff in pairs."

     Upon completion of the counting and the announcement of the election results, the 2023 ROE will come to an end. The EAC expresses gratitude to all electoral staff for their efforts and departments involved, including the Home Affairs Department, the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Correctional Services Department and the Independent Commission Against Corruption for making proper arrangements for the election. The EAC also thanks the Health Bureau and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for their valuable advice on infection control measures.

     The EAC would also like to thank the electors for their active participation in casting their votes, the candidates and their electioneering teams for their co-operation as well as the media for their reporting, so that the polling and counting processes were conducted in an open, fair and honest manner.

     The polling for the 2023 ROE took place on two consecutive Sundays. The Village Representative Election was completed smoothly last Sunday (January 8). As for the KFR Election today, a total of 39 KFRs for the Cheung Chau Market Town will be returned by around 6 800 eligible registered electors. As regards the Peng Chau Market Town, 17 candidates were returned uncontested.

     The EAC will conduct a detailed review of various arrangements for the election. A report will be submitted to the Chief Executive within three months.

Ends/Sunday, January 15, 2023
Issued at HKT 23:13

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