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The chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee, has appealed to Election Committee members to cast their votes at the poll for the Chief Executive election on Sunday (March 25).
The first round of voting will start at 9am and close at 11am.
"To avoid a last-minute rush, Election Committee members are advised to arrive early at the polling station, and allow time for their walk from the disembarking points of their transport to the polling station," Mr Justice Pang said after visiting the polling station that was being set up at Hall 2 of AsiaWorld-Expo today (March 23).
He reminded committee members to bring along their identity cards to the polling station.
"A voter has to use the chop provided to stamp a 'tick' in the circle opposite the name of his chosen candidate on the ballot paper, and then fold it inwards before dropping it into one of the two adjacent ballot boxes," he said.
Mr Justice Pang reassured electors that the votes would be cast by secret ballot in accordance with the law.
"No record will be made of the particular ballot paper issued to an elector, and no serial number will be printed on his ballot paper," he said.
The counting of votes will start after the poll closes. The ballot papers will be counted manually. The candidate who has obtained more than half of the total number of valid votes cast (i.e. with an absolute majority) will be elected.
"Only when no candidate obtains an absolute majority of votes will there be another round of voting," Mr Justice Pang said.
Election Committee members are encouraged to wait at the counting station until the election result has been announced by the Returning Officer.
Members of the public can observe the counting process from a designated area inside Hall 2.
"As the first round of voting will not close until 11am, people need not arrive at the counting station too early. They are encouraged to travel there by public transport," Mr Justice Pang said.
No one is allowed to use mobile phones or pagers, take photographs, or do filming and video or audio recording inside the polling station without permission.
"These are offences punishable by fines and imprisonment," Mr Justice Pang said.
Ends/Friday, March 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:09
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