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The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, officiated at the launch ceremony for the 2015 Voter Registration Campaign at Lok Fu Plaza today (May 9). Also taking part in the ceremony were the Acting Director of Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan, and the Assistant Director of Broadcasting (Radio and Corporate Programming), Ms Lisa Liu. A number of District Council Chairmen and Vice-chairmen also showed up to support the campaign.
"The number of registered electors is about 3.5 million currently, which has increased by nearly 300,000 compared with the figure 10 years ago.
"But there are still about 1.3 million eligible people who have yet to register as electors," Mr Justice Fung told the media after the launch ceremony.
"As such, the aims of the 2015 Voter Registration Campaign are to encourage eligible persons who have yet to register as electors to sign up, and to remind registered electors to update their registration particulars with the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) in a timely manner," Mr Justice Fung said.
He appealed to eligible persons who have yet to register as electors to submit new registration applications by the registration deadline of July 2, so that their registration particulars would be included in the final register to be released in September this year and they can vote in the District Council Election to be held in November.
Registered electors are not required to register again, but they are reminded to fulfil their civic responsibility by notifying the REO of any change in residential address or other registration particulars by the statutory deadline of August 25.
"Given the concern of the public on the accuracy of the information in the voter registers in recent years, we will continue to strengthen publicity to remind the public to provide true and detailed information in their voter applications and registered electors to update their residential addresses with the REO in a timely way.
"It is an offence for a person to knowingly or recklessly give false information for voter registration, such as a false residential address, to the REO, regardless of whether the person has voted in an election," Mr Justice Fung stressed.
To maintain the integrity of the voter registration system, the REO will continue to implement targeted checking measures in the current cycle to enhance the accuracy and completeness of information in the voter registers.
"The REO is now issuing inquiry letters to some electors by registered mail in accordance with the relevant electoral laws, requiring them to confirm or update their registered addresses. The EAC appeals to electors who have received the letters to reply as soon as possible and, in any case, not later than the deadline of July 2 so that they can maintain their registration and vote in the District Council Election in November this year," Mr Justice Fung said.
The launch ceremony was jointly organised by the REO and Radio Television Hong Kong. The REO also set up voter registration counters at the event venue.
Forms for voter registration and reporting changes in registration particulars can be obtained from the REO, the District Offices and management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk).
Completed forms can be submitted by mail to the REO at 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, or by fax to 2891 1180.
Members of the public may log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) anytime to check whether they are a registered voter and whether their registered address is still their principal place of residence.
To save paper and protect the environment, voters are encouraged to provide or update their email addresses for receiving electoral messages.
Enquiries can be made to the REO hotline 2891 1001.
Ends/Saturday, May 9, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:16
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