***********************************************************
A new TV commercial explaining the voting procedures for the general public in the Legislative Council (LegCo) election on September 9 has been launched by the Government.
The Announcement in the Public Interest (API) will be aired on prime-time TV and radio from tomorrow (August 13) and explains the procedures for voting in the geographical constituency (GC) and the new District Council (second) functional constituency.
It has already been uploaded onto the 2012 LegCo election website (www.elections.gov.hk) and on ISD's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/isdgovhk).
The new API complements another TV commercial on air since July 30 that explains how more than 3.2 million electors will for the first time get two votes in the 2012 LegCo election ¡ª one in a GC and one in the new District Council (second) functional constituency, which is commonly referred to as the "super seat".
A leaflet on the voting procedures for the GC and "super seat" can be viewed on the landing page of the elections website; and will be posted out to all 3.46 million registered electors.
It will be among six items sent in a mass-mailing campaign that starts this week and will last for two weeks.
Apart from the leaflet, voters will receive their poll card stating where they should cast their votes; two booklets introducing the candidates in their geographical constituency and functional constituency; a guide on voting procedure and a location map of their assigned polling station; and a leaflet on clean elections published by the ICAC.
The two APIs on the "super seat" are among a series of other TV commercials that have been produced by the Government to encourage nominations, voter turnout and to promote clean elections.
All the TV commercials can be viewed on the elections website and ISD's YouTube channel.
Apart from TV, the APIs will be aired in phases on giant video walls at eight prominent locations; on public transport including KMB buses, City Bus and New World First Bus; on the MTR; and on the internet including Yahoo-Homepage, Yahoo-News, MSN and Openrice in the runup to the election over the next four to five weeks.
Advertisements will also be placed in newspapers, while giant banners, buntings and posters will be displayed in prominent locations around Hong Kong to remind people of the LegCo election day on September 9.
A smartphone App "I want to be a LegCo Member" has also been launched and can be found on the elections website.
A Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau spokesman said: "The Government is committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of the new electoral arrangements, are encouraged to cast their vote on September 9 and support the holding of clean elections.
"We will continue to monitor public and media feedback on our publicity efforts and to ensure the key messages are spread to the community in good time before election day."
For more information, please visit: www.elections.gov.hk.
Ends/Sunday, August 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:00
NNNN