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Mr Patten said the actual number of people voting was very substantially higher, and "we are well on our way to passing the number who voted in 1991," he added.
In reply to a question, Mr Patten said: "I think it's for people to take their own lessons, but clearly, candidates who would customarily associate themselves with some of the views expressed by Peking officials have taken an active part in this campaign.
"And I think that what everybody knows is that conducting elections like this isn't threat to anybody. Hong Kong manages these things by and large with considerable moderation and considerable success."
People were steadily more interested in "having a say about the way their lives are shaped", the Governor said.
Commenting on the report of scuffle, Mr Patten said: "I think everybody regrets any scuffles or punch-ups in the margins of polling day.
"I am sure the parties will want to ensure that its supporters, however enthusiastic they become, keep their enthusiasm within the bounds of vigorous politeness.
"I would guess that the amount of violence associated with politics and political campaigning (in Hong Kong) is miles below the level that you find virtually everywhere else in the world, and that, again, is an aspect of the fact that this is a very stable, very mature, very sophisticated, very well-educated, very grown-up community."
The Governor appealed to prospective voters to come out to cast their vote.
He said: "And I hope that those who haven't yet voted will leave the television or whatever else they are doing for a few minutes and go down to the polling stations and cast a vote."
End/Sunday, March 5, 1995
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