*******************************************************
The Home Affairs Department (HAD) today (December 31) appealed to registered electors to exercise their right to vote in the 2011 Village Representative Election (VRE) in the New Territories which will start from January 2, 2011.
An HAD spokesman said, "There are more than 180,000 registered electors and more than 1,700 candidates in the upcoming election. While 944 candidates have been returned uncontested, 808 candidates will compete for 414 seats."
The polling time of the village elections will be from noon to 7pm on four consecutive Sundays, from January 2 until January 23. Every elector will receive a polling notice detailing the election date for the village in which he has been registered as an elector. Details can also be found on the website (www.had.gov.hk/vre/eng/elections/2011notices.html).
"Electors are required to bring along the relevant polling notice and their identity documents to the designated polling station on the specified election date for their village. The government appeals to all eligible men and women to actively participate in the polls.
"The HAD attaches great importance to the integrity, fairness and smooth operation of the election," the spokesman said. "With the supervision of the Electoral Affairs Commission and assistance from other government departments, we believe the election will be held in an open, fair and honest manner."
For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or visit the Village Representative Election website.
Ends/Friday, December 31, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:31
NNNN