CS inspects preparatory work for 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections (with photos)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr John Lee, today (September 14) visited the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) in Kowloon Bay to inspect and be briefed on the arrangements and preparation for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections to be held on Sunday (September 19).
 
     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Roy Tang, and the Chief Electoral Officer of the REO, Mr Alan Yung, Mr Lee was briefed by REO staff members on various aspects of preparatory work for the Elections, in particular newly introduced measures including the use of an electronic poll register system, which allows voters to collect ballot papers at designated polling stations flexibly to enhance the efficiency of issuing ballot papers, and the Presiding Officers being able to set up a special queue for voters in need to shorten the queueing time. Polling and counting stations will implement a host of disease prevention measures to protect the health of voters and polling staff.
 
     Mr Lee said, "As the first elections following the improvement of the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) implemented from the national and local levels in March and May this year respectively, the Elections to be held on Sunday will have a profound impact on the future effective governance of Hong Kong. The electoral system of the HKSAR is a crucial part of Hong Kong's political system. Improving the electoral system puts the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong' into practice and ensures the long-term prosperity and stability of the city, and is of great significance to the implementation of 'one country, two systems'."
 
     "The Elections are rigorously guarded by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee to ensure that only those who comply with the statutory requirements and conditions for genuinely upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR are allowed as candidates. The HKSAR Government is making all necessary arrangements for the Elections in strict accordance with the revised electoral regulations. The preparatory work of the REO is at its final stage to make sure that the Elections will be conducted in a fair, just, clean, orderly and safe manner in accordance with the law."
 
     During the inspection, Mr Lee visited the call centre and chatted with frontline staff to know more about their work. He also encouraged them to continue serving members of the public with commitment and play a part to ensure that the Elections will be held smoothly.
 
     Mr Lee said, "The preparation for the Elections involves a lot of effort and arduous work, including voter registration arrangements, recruitment and training of electoral staff, and arrangements on the polling day. I am delighted to learn that the REO has put in place a comprehensive and detailed plan to assist voters in casting their votes so that the Elections can be conducted properly and smoothly in accordance with the law."
 
     In these Elections, a total of 36 subsectors are required to return 967 seats by election. Among them, 603 candidates from 23 subsectors will be returned uncontested. For the other 13 subsectors, 412 candidates will contest 364 seats. These 13 subsectors involve around 5 000 voters, who shall vote at five polling stations located in Wan Chai, Kowloon, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun this Sunday.