XN000022-1991-05-03 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1991

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY

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HONG KONG WILL WITNESS THE SECOND MAJOR SET OF ELECTIONS OF THE YEAR THIS SUNDAY, MAY 5, WITH THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

DETAILS OF THE WOULD BE

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS, MR SUEN SAID 36 CANDIDATES CONTESTING 14 SEATS IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND 23 CANDIDATES VYING FOR 11 SEATS IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.

WOULD BE

"ADDITIONALLY, ONE CANDIDATE EACH HAS BEEN ELECTED UNCONTESTED IN THE WONG TAI SIN NORTH CONSTITUENCY IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA, AND THE NORTH CONSTITUENCY IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, AREA," HE SAID.

MR SUEN NOTED THAT A RECORD OF SOME 1.7 MILLION REGISTERED ELECTORS IN THE 25 CONTESTED CONSTITUENCIES WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

'AS WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS HELD EARLIER IN MARCH AND THE COMING DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON A SUNDAY.

"THE ARRANGEMENT IS INTENDED TO FACILITATE REGISTERED ELECTORS TO VOTE. FOR A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF THE PUBLIC, SUNDAY IS A HOLIDAY AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME FOR THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER THEIR LEISURE ACTIVITIES," HE SAID.

ALL 311 POLLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY WILL BE OPEN FROM 7.30 AM UNTIL 10.30 PM. THE POLLING STATIONS ARE THE SAME AS THE ONES USED FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND ARE ALL SITUATED WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE OF THE ELECTORS' HOME.

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"VOTING ITSELF ONLY TAKES ABOUT THREE MINUTES, MR SUEN SAID. ON ARRIVAL AT THE DESIGNATED POLLING STATION, AN ELECTOR'S STATUS WOULD BE VERIFIED; HE WOULD BE GIVEN A BALLOT PAPER AND ALL HE HAS TO DO IS MARK A CROSS IN THE BOX AGAINST THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE, FOLD THE BALLOT PAPER AND PUT IT IN THE BALLOT BOX.

"THE WHOLE PROCESS IS QUICK AND SECRECY OF VOTING IS MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT, HE ADDED.

MR SUEN URGED ELECTORS TO BRING ALONG THEIR POLL CARDS AS THIS WOULD SPEED UP THE PROCESSING, "HOWEVER, IN CASE THE POLL CARDS HAVE BEEN MISLAID OR ARE NOT ON HAND, I URGE VOTERS STILL TO GO

ΤΟ THE DESIGNATED STATIONS TO CAST THEIR VOTES. THE PRODUCTION OF THEIR IDENTITY CARDS WILL BE SUFFICIENT.

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A HOTLINE, 827 1122, WHICH WILL BE MANNED FROM 7 AM UNTIL THE POLLS CLOSE AT 10.30 PM ON ELECTION DAY, HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY SET UP ΤΟ

ANSWER ENQUIRIES ON THE ELECTIONS. IF VOTERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE ABOUT THEIR ELECTORAL STATUS OR THE POLLING DETAILS, THEY CAN CALL THIS NUMBER.

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