The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam, today (February 13) visited the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) to get updates on the concrete arrangements and preparations for the 2017 Chief Executive Election to be held next month.

     "The 2017 Chief Executive Election will be held on March 26 and nomination will commence tomorrow (February 14). The REO will conduct the election in strict accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant electoral laws to ensure that the election be held in an open, fair and honest manner," Mr Tam said.

     During the visit, Mr Tam was briefed on the preparatory work for the election, including venue and security arrangements for the main polling station and central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, design of the ballot paper and the ballot box, polling procedures, sealing and delivery procedures of ballot papers and ballot boxes, and vote counting arrangements.

     REO colleagues also demonstrated the polling and counting procedures and briefed him on the contingency plans to cope with different circumstances.

     Mr Tam said, "I am pleased to learn that the REO has put in place a comprehensive and detailed plan to ensure that the election will be conducted properly and smoothly in accordance with the law, including implementing tight security measures in the handling of ballot papers and ballot boxes and taking measures to safeguard the secrecy of votes."

Ends/Monday, February 13, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:44

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