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The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam, today (May 31) visited the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) to get first-hand information on preparations for the 2016 Legislative Council (LegCo) election to be held in September.
Mr Tam noted that preparations for the LegCo election were now in full swing. The Electoral Affairs Commission and the REO will, as in the past, implement various electoral arrangements in strict accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant local legislation.
During the visit, Mr Tam was briefed on the polling procedures at an ordinary polling station and was shown the design of the ballot papers and ballot boxes. He learnt that the REO will carefully test the capacity of the ballot boxes to ensure that there will be sufficient ballot boxes to cater for a 100 per cent voter turnout.
"I am also pleased to note that the REO will continue to make the best endeavour to facilitate electors with special needs to cast their votes, with the aim of having at least 90 per cent of the polling stations set up at venues accessible to electors with mobility difficulties," Mr Tam said.
On vote counting arrangements, Mr Tam was given a comprehensive introduction to the set-up of the Central Counting Station to be established at AsiaWorld-Expo. He also had a detailed briefing on the work flow of vote counting, from the receipt and handling of ballot boxes to sorting, handling of misplaced ballot papers and counting.
He said he was glad to learn that the REO had taken reference from past experiences in actual operation to further improve the various electoral arrangements, and would ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming LegCo election in a fair, open and honest manner.
Ends/Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:03
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