HK elections: Voters reminded to bring original ID card

HONG KONG – The city's Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has reminded electors to bring the original of their Hong Kong identity card to the designated polling station to vote during Sunday's District Council elections.

"Electors must bring the original of their Hong Kong identity card or other specified alternative documents to the designated polling station to collect their ballot papers to cast their votes," the REO said in a statement Saturday.

While explaining the voting system, a REO spokesman said the electors must use a chop to be provided by the polling station to stamp the ballot paper with a tick in the circle opposite the name of their chosen candidates, and fold the ballot paper inward in half before putting it into the ballot box.

Over 610 ordinary polling stations and 23 dedicated polling stations will be opened on the polling day. The polling hours for the ordinary polling stations and three dedicated polling stations set up at police stations will be from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm. For the dedicated polling stations set up at penal institutions, for security reasons, the polling hours will be from 9 am to 4 pm.

The voting procedure for electors and the venue setup at the dedicated polling stations will be basically the same as those of the ordinary polling station, said the spokesman.

"Unauthorized persons are strictly prohibited from using mobile phones or any other device for electronic communication, taking photographs, filming, and making video or audio recordings at the polling stations," he said.

A no canvassing zone will be designated outside each polling station to ensure that electors can gain access to the polling station without interference. In addition, a no staying zone will also be designated immediately outside the entrance or exit of a polling station to avoid any obstruction of the entry or exit, he added.

Enquiries about the by-election can be made to the election hotline at 2891 1001, which will operate from 7 am to 11 pm on Sunday.

A complaints hotline (2827 7251) will be in service from 7:30 am to 11 pm during the day to handle complaints about breaches of electoral rules or guidelines.

Once the poll closes, most ordinary polling stations will be converted into counting stations for counting of votes. The counting stations will be open to the public once the conversion has been completed. Members of the public will be able to watch the counting process at designated areas inside the counting stations.