XN000022-1994-06-02 — Page 7

THURSDAY, JUNE 2. 1994

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STAFF MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE AND TEMPORARY COMMUNITY ORGANISERS WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST PASSERS-BY TO REGISTER AS VOTERS IN VARIOUS STRATEGIC LOCATIONS INCLUDING RAILWAY STATIONS, BUS TERMINUSES, SHOPPING ARCADES AND RESTAURANTS.

MRS CHAN WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE DISTRICT'S VOTER REGISTRATION TEAMS HAD SO FAR VISITED 140,000 HOUSEHOLDS. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO KNOCK ON DOORS UNTIL LATE JUNE.

IN MA ON SHAN, SHE ALSO MET KEY MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WHERE SHE WAS BRIEFED ON THE DISTRICT'S LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.

EARLIER, THE CHIEF

SECRETARY VISITED THE PRINCE OF WALES

HOSPITAL.

0

―

SHA MAKES SPECIAL APPEAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOTE

TODAY

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, (THURSDAY) MADE A SPECIAL APPEAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO REGISTER AS VOTERS

TO EXERCISE THE POWER THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THEM FOR THE

AND TIME.

FIRST

"50 FAR, THE RESPONSE FROM OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAS BKEN VERY ENCOURAGING, HE SAID.

OUT

++

SPEAKING AT A PO LEUNG KUK LUNCHEON MEETING, MR SUEN POINTED THAT SOME 16 PER CENT OF THOSE WHO REGISTERED FOR THE FIRST TIME WERE IN THE 18-20 AGE BRACKET.

SAID

"BUT WE STILL NEED MORE PFOPLE TO COME FORWARD, HE STRESSED.

ON THE CURRENT PUBLICITY DRIVE ON VOTER REGISTRATION, MR SUEN THE DISTRICT OFFICES WERE WORKING FLAT OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE'S EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE MESSAGE.

"WE HAVE KNOCKED ON MORE THAN 1,000,000 DOORS UP TO NOW AND EXPECT TO KNOCK ON MANY MORE BEFORE OUR CAMPAIGN ENDS ON JULY 1, " HE SAID.

AS TO THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVISING AN AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM, MR SUEN SAID THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN EXAMINED IN THE PAST.

HE SAID: "SO FAR, OUR MAIN DIFFICULTY STEMS FROM OUR DISTRICT- BASED VOTING SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO ASCERTAIN THE ADDRESS OF THE VOTERS

IN ORDER THAT THEY WOULD BE CASTING THEIR VOTES IN THE APPROPRIATE GEOGRAPHICAL ELECTIONS.

m

OWING TO THE HIGH POPULATION MOBILITY IN HONG KONG AND THE LACK OF ANY EFFECTIVE MEANS TO KEEP TRACK OF ITS MOVEMENT, HE SAID, IT WOULD BE AN EQUALLY COSTLY, LABOUR-INTENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING EXERCISE TO COMPILE A REGISTER OF UP-TO-DATE ADDRESSES OF ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS.

/IN THTS