XN000022-1991-09-14 — Page 4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1991

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VOTERS REMINDED TO GO TO POLLING BOOTH TOMORROW

VOTERS ARE TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED THAT THEY CAN VOTE FOR TWO CANDIDATES IN THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES IN THE FIRST-EVER DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (SUNDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE (REO) STRESSED THAT VOTERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR POLL CARDS CAN STILL CAST THEIR VOTES.

"ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS TO SHOW THEİR İDENTITY CARDS, BUT OF COURSE IT IS BETTER TO BRING ALONG THEIR POLL CARDS AS THIS WILL SPEED UP THE VOTING PROCEDURE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE

SAID OFFICIALS IN POLLING STATIONS WILL CHECK THE IDENTITY OF EACH VOTER AND THEN HAND HIM A BALLOT PAPER.

"ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS TO PUT AN 'X' IN THE BOX(ES) ADJACENT TO THE NAME(S) OF HIS SELECTED CANDIDATE(S), FOLD UP THE PAPER AND PUT IT IN THE BALLOT BOX, HE SAID.

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TOMORROW, 354 POLLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY WILL BE OPENED FROM 7.30 AM TO 10.30 PM.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED VOTERS WHO FIND THEIR DESIGNATED POLLING #TATIONS INACCESSIBLE.

"THEY CAN TELEPHONE THE REO'S HOTLINE 827 1122.

"REQ OFFICERS WILL TAKE NOTE OF THEIR REQUEST AND FIND ÁN ALTERNATIVE POLLING STATION WITHIN THE SAME CONSTITUENCY WHICH 1s PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THEM," HE SAID.

FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR ILLITERATE VOTERS, OFFICIALS IN POLLING STATIONS WILL

THE BALLOT PAPER.

ON HELP THEM MARK THE CROSS(ES)

IN THE 1988 LEGCO ELECTIONS, 235 VISUALLY IMPAIRED, 793 PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND 29,538 ILLITERATE VOTERS TURNED UP TO VOTE.

THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT ANY PERSON WHO HAS PROBLEMS IN VOTING OR HAS LOST THIS POLL CARD CAN ALSO TELEPHONE THE HOTLINE.

"AT PRESENT, THE HOTLINE IS MANNED BY FOUR REO OFFICERS DURING OFFICE HOURS. THERE IS TAPE-RECORDING SERVICE TO CATER FOR THOSE WHO CALL AFTER OFFICE HOURS.

"BUT IT WILL BE MANNED BY 12 OFFICERS ON THE ELECTION bày TOMORROW, HE SAID.

IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN MARCH THIS YEAR, THE HOTLINE RECEIVED ABOUT 10,000 CALLS DURING THE 15 HOURS OF THE ELECTIONS. IN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN MAY, ABOUT 6,000 CALLS WERB

RECEIVED.

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