XN000022-1982-09-20 — Page 5

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1982

VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THURSDAY'S ELECTIONS

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DETAILS OF VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON THURSDAY (SEPTEMBER 23) WERE OUTLINED TODAY (MONDAY) BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

HE SAID VOTERS COULD ONLY VOTE AT THE DESIGNATED POLLING STATION AS SHOWN ON THEIR POLLING CARDS WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN SENT TO THEM.

+THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED OR MISLAID THEIR POLLING CARDS CAN TELEPHONE THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE FOR THE LOCATION OF THEIR POLLING STATIONS. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 5-270380 AND 5-270369, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT ELECTORS COULD STILL VOTE WITHOUT THE POLLING CARD. +ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS TO BRING ALONG THEIR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS OR DRIVING LICENCES FOR THE ISSUE OF A BALLOT PAPER,

*THE POLLING CARD IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR ENTRY INTO POLLING STATIONS BECAUSE IT MAINLY SERVES TO REMIND VOTERS OF THE LOCATIONS OF THE STATIONS.

+NAMES OF ALL CANDIDATES FOR ANY CONSTITUENCY ARE PRINTED ON THE BALLOT PAPER. WHAT A VOTER NEEDS TO DO IS SIMPLY MARK A CROSS IN THE BOX AGAINST THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE.

+HE SHOULD THEN FOLD THE BALLOT PAPER AND PLACE IT IN THE BALLOT BOX, AND LEAVE THE POLLING STATION IMMEDIATELY, HE SAID,

HE POINTED OUT THAT AS THE ELECTIONS WOULD BE HELD BY SECRET BALLOT, ANY MARKING ON THE BALLOT PAPER THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THE VOTER WOULD BE DECLARED VOID.

+A BALLOT PAPER WOULD ALSO BE DECLARED VOID IF A VOTER VOTED FOR MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT VOTERS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO TALK TO CANDIDATES OR THEIR ELECTION AGENTS INSIDE THE POLLING STATIONS, AND TAKING A BALLOT PAPER OUT OF THE POLLING STATION WOULD BE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

+SHOULD ANY VOTER ENCOUNTER ANY DIFFICULTIES, ASSISTANCE COULD BE SOUGHT FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICERS,+ HE ADDED.

ON ELECTION DAY, 170 POLLING STATIONS WILL BE OPEN IN 74 CONSTITUENCIES IN THE 10 CITY DISTRICTS FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM.

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