XN000022-1986-11-21 — Page 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1986

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YEAR-ROUND APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS

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PROSPECTIVE ELECTORS WILL BE ABLE TO SEND IN APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS ELECTORS FOR URBAN-REGIONAL COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR.

ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1986 GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY) CONTAIN AMENDMENTS TO ENABLE THE REGISTRATION OFFICER TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS OUTSIDE THE NORMAL REGISTRATION PERIODS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT, UP UNTIL NOW, APPLICATIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER FOR ANY YEAR HAD TO BE LODGED BETWEEN AUGUST 15 AND SEPTEMBER 30 IN THAT YEAR. APPLICATIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE FINAL REGISTER HAD TO BE SUBMITTED DURING THE PERIOD WHEN THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER WAS PUBLISHED IN EARLY NOVEMBER AND ENDING ON NOVEMBER 20 IN THE SAME YEAR.

WHILE THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WILL ALLOW APPLICATIONS TO BE MADE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FORMAL REGISTRATION PERIODS BETWEEN AUGUST 15 AND NOVEMBER 20 WILL BE RETAINED AS THERE MUST BE A CUT-OFF DATE TO FACILITATE THE ANNUAL COMPILATION OF THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER AND THE FINAL REGISTER.

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER NOVEMBER 20 MAY ONLY BE PROCESSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVISONAL REGISTER IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THERE IS NO MATERIAL CHANGE IN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS UNDER WHICH ALL NEW APPLICATIONS WILL STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PUBLIC INSPECTION TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OBJECTIONS TO BE RAISED.

TO ENABLE PROSPECTIVE ELECTORS TO OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS MORE EASILY, AS FROM JANUARY 1987, APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, POST OFFICES, HOUSING DEPARTMENT ESTATE OFFICES, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT BRANCH OFFICES, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LICENSING OFFICES, WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ENQUIRY CENTRES, TREASURY COLLECTION OFFICES, INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT COLLECTION OFFICES AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

GENERALLY, PERSONS WHO ARE 21 YEARS OF AGE AND WHO HAVE ORDINARILY RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR SEVEN YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF APPLICATION ARE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS ELECTORS. AS FOR THOSE WHO ARE HONG KONG BELONGERS AS DEFINED IN THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT WILL NOT RE APPLICABLE.