The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The counting of votes of the 2025 Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) By-elections was completed at 8.35pm today (September 7). The poll closed at 6pm today. Counting of ballot papers commenced soon after the arrival of the ballot boxes at the Central Counting Station and was completed in about two hours.
 
     "For the By-elections, about 3 534 voters have cast their votes, with a cumulative turnout rate of 97.33 per cent. It was the first time for the ECSS By-elections to adopt a new electronic counting system for counting of votes. The whole counting process went smoothly. On the whole, the polling and counting processes proceeded very smoothly and all arrangements for the By-elections have reflected the principle of openness, honesty and fairness. The Electoral Affairs Committee (EAC) is satisfied with the overall arrangements," the Chairman of the EAC, Mr Justice David Lok, said on the conclusion of the By-elections.

     As prescribed by the law, the EAC will submit a report on the review of the electoral arrangements of the By-elections to the Chief Executive within three months.
 
     The EAC is very thankful to the bureaux/departments involved in the By-elections, especially the Crisis Management Committee members which includes the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Observatory, the Digital Policy Office, the Information Services Department and the Home Affairs Department. In addition, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and other law enforcement agencies made appropriate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the By-elections.
 
     The EAC would like to thank all voters for casting their votes, the media for reporting the electoral affairs, candidates and their agents for their co-operation so that the polling and counting processes of the By-elections were conducted openly, honestly and fairly, and in a safe, orderly and efficient manner.
 
     The final register of the Election Committee will be published on September 17 in accordance with the law.

Ends/Sunday, September 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 22:12

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