XN000022-1982-05-23 — Page 5

SUNDAY, MAY 23, 1982

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THE FIRST FOREIGN COMPANY ON THE REGISTER IS THE AMERICAN EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL BANKING CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY, INCORPORATED) WHICH OBTAINED ITS POST-WAR REGISTRATION IN 1946. SINCE THEN 2 599 FOREIGN COMPANIES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED, BUT OVER THE YEARS 1 014 CEASED TO HAVE A PLACE OF BUSINESS IN HONG KONG AND WERE DE-REGISTERED.

THE 1 585 FOREIGN COMPANIES NOW ON THE REGISTER ARE FROM AS MANY AS 57 COUNTRIES. THE UNITED STATES LEADS WITH 363 COMPANIES, AND IS FOLLOWED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH 219, AND JAPAN 171, MR JACOBS SAID.

VOTERS ADVISED TO REPORT CHANGES IN ADDRESSES *****

REGISTERED VOTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN THE URBAN AREA, ARE ADVISED TO REPORT EARLY ANY CHANGES IN THEIR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES IF THEY HAVE MOVED AFTER THEIR REGISTRATION.

+THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OF AN ELECTOR WILL DETERMINE IN WHICH CONSTITUENCY AND AT WHICH POLLING STATION HE WILL VOTE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

FORMS FOR REPORTING CHANGES OF ADDRESS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES AND POST OFFICES.

THE COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE BEFORE MONDAY, JUNE 28, SO THAT THE NEW ADDRESSES CAN BE SHOWN IN THE FINAL REGISTER. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED.

ALTERNATIVELY, AN ELECTOR COULD WRITE BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO THE OFFICE, QUOTING HIS HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD NUMBER AND THE NEW RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

MEANWHILE, HE SAID, A PROVISIONAL REGISTER SHOWING THE REGISTERED PARTICULARS OF ALL ELECTORS WOULD BE PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION FROM JUNE 18 TO 28.