HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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in the urban areas, and also in providing polling stations in outlying areas such as Cheung Chau, Yuen Long, etc., if mobile polling booths are not feasible by law?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The number of votes cast at the polling stations at the North Kowloon Magistracy and the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force compound at Happy Valley were 9 and 5 respectively. I regret that I am not in a position to advance a firm opinion in regard to the suitability of the sites of polling stations or the possible reasons for the poor response in the turn-out of voters at the recent by-election. As I recollect it, representations were made through me to Government in July 1962 following meetings to discuss the question of polling stations, which were attended by representatives of the Elected Members of this Council and myself. Your mention of a special committee is presumably a reference to these meetings. The representations made at that time were not accepted by Government because it was considered that the four urban polling stations officially proposed would be more in line with recommendations received both from Unofficial Members and from Returning and Registration Officers in the past, and would provide better facilities for voters, taking into account the distribution of the voters, than the two urban stations and four outlying stations proposed by the Elected Members.
In reply to the second part of the question, the reason why poll cards were not printed at the last by-election was that these cards are valid for a period of two years and in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Urban Council Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations, 1955 they were sent to all registered electors prior to the Urban Council Ordinary Election held in March 1963. I cannot agree that the fact that poll cards were not reprinted for the recent by-election could have had an important effect on the turn-out of electors. It was not an essential requirement for a person wishing to vote to produce a poll card at a polling station and publicity was given to this before the by-election. Poll cards merely provide a quick means of checking an elector's name in the Electoral Register, thus speeding up the issue to him of a ballot paper.
As far as I have been able to ascertain, approximately 60 persons, among those who turned up to vote, went to the wrong polling station and were re-directed to the correct one.
Whether any of these persons gave up in disgust, as a result of their mistake, and failed to vote, I cannot say.
In regard to the last part of the question, I see no reason why the relevant Select Committee could not consider the question of the siting and provision of polling stations, if this Council wishes it to do so. In this connexion, however, I would draw your attention to the memorandum issued to Members of this Council on 20th August, 1962, concerning polling stations, the last sentence of which reads as follows:-"For these reasons, His Excellency (the Governor) considers that, while it is proper to consider and give full weight to the views of elected members or any other individuals or groups of people, it would not be proper formally to consult the Urban Council on the siting of polling stations."
MR. BERNACCHI : As a first supplementary, Mr. Chairman, are you aware that there are over a hundred voters in Yuen Long, over a hundred voters in Tai O, and over a hundred voters in Cheung Chau, the last two places being island townships, and that there is the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance, which makes it an election offence for any person to provide the fare of an elector to go to vote?
CHAIRMAN:-I was not aware of these figures, Sir.
MR. BERNACCHI:-If indeed my figures are right, would you be willing, Sir, to put up to Government that polling stations be sited at Yuen Long, Tai O, Cheung Chau, and perhaps also at Tai Po and Fanling?
CHAIRMAN: ---Sir, the question of siting polling stations in the New Territories has been referred by me to Government before, at the request of the Elected Members. I would certainly be glad to put their views forward again, if you wish.
DR. LEE:-In view of the publicity given by both Radio Hong Kong and some newspapers, is the Chairman aware that the last by-election was unknown to some people?
CHAIRMAN:---No, Sir.
MR. BERNACCHI-Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, my supplementary is a corollary to that asked just now by Dr. LEE, but I would ask it in this way. Are you aware, Sir, that many of the voters did not know that they were on the Electoral Register because they had not received poll cards?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, I was not aware of that.
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