The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) started the
2003 District Council election at 7:30 am Sunday. A total of 423
polling stations across Hong Kong are open from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm
for about 2.4 million electors to cast their vote.
About 74 of the 400 constituencies have been elected unopposed.
The remaining 326 seats in the 18 District Councils will be
contested by 763 candidates.
Elections Well Prepared
One day ahead of the 2003 Hong Kong District Council elections,
over 420 polling stations are fully prepared for the voting, while
officials called for voters to exercise in action their civil
rights by voting their favorite candidates.?
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam, Secretary for
Home Affairs Patrick Ho and Chairman of the Electoral Affairs
Commission (EAC) Woo Kwok-hing attended Saturday a TV promoting
program inviting more eligible voters to go to the polling station
on Sunday.
Stephen Lam told reporters that in the last six months, the Hong
Kong government has taken various steps to encourage higher turnout
and voter registration rates.
According to Lam, since late September and early October,
promotions have been done through the media and in various
districts to remind electorate of the voting date and the
importance for them to exercise their voting right, so that the
right people can be chosen to be representatives of the residents
in the District Council.
"We should all know that voting is our rights that should be
cherished," Patrick Ho said, adding that going to the polling
station is the practical action to support Hong Kong's democratic
development.
According to the Electoral Office, voters bring their Hong Kong
identity cards on Sunday to the designated polling station and each
voter will be given a chop bearing a "tick" to mark the ballot
paper and cast their vote.
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Woo Kwok-hing and
the other two members of the commission, Norman Leung and Elizabeth
Shing, inspected polling stations in Hong Kong's 18 districts to
see how the electoral activities are going.
The commission also opened 10 telephone lines to receive public
complaints on breaches of electoral guidelines. The services will
be extended from Sunday morning until 10:30 p.m. when the polls
close.
Another 80 hotlines are open for public by the commission to
offer consultations for voters.
Officials Call for?More Active?Roles
HKSAR Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa cast his vote at a polling
station at St. Joseph's College Sunday morning.
Tung told reporters after casting his vote that District
Councils and council members have been playing an important role in
the district affairs and serving as bridges between the HKSAR
government and local residents.
He expected coordinated efforts from the council members for
improvement of community environment and promotion of recreational
and cultural activities, in an effort to let all residents have a
better life in their residential areas.?
Tung required all members of the District Councils to cooperate
with the SAR government and reflect more opinions of local
residents so as to enable the government to improve
administration.
Patrick Ho Chi-ping, secretary for the Civil Service, also went to
the polling station at the St. Joseph's College for voting.
He said the District Council members' suggestions to the
government reflect residents' expectations and requirement. The SAR
government always collects citizens' suggestions before the
adopting of major policies.
Ho said the District Councils have to review their roles
constantly, in order to better meeting the requirements of the
residents.
Higher Turnout Expected
A higher turnout of voting can help promote political
development in Hong Kong, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs
Stephen Lam told reporters after his voting on Sunday moring.
The Chief Executive also urged all registered voters to exercise
their civic right to vote on the polling day and elect members who
can best represent their interest.
"I expect a higher voting rate this year," said Lam, adding that
the higher the voting rate, the broader representation the District
Council members will have.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2003)