15:20Press conference of 2025 Legislative Council General Election
TMHK · Hong Kong, Hong Kong
00:00 - 00:22 Five speakers entering the press conference venue 00:23 - 09:07 (Soundbite)(Cantonese) David Lok Kai-hong, chairman of Electoral Affairs Commission, Saying: "In recent years, we have heard opinions from various sectors of society, including the Legislative Council. It has been noted that many voters who need to work on polling day may not have sufficient time to travel to their assigned polling stations to vote—whether before or after work, or during meal breaks—due to the nature of their work, working hours, or duty arrangements. As a result, they may be unable to exercise their right to vote. In view of this, the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) will launch a pilot arrangement for dedicated polling stations in the upcoming Legislative Council General Election to cater to these voter groups with specific needs. The dedicated polling stations under the pilot arrangement fall into the following three categories: First, Dedicated Polling Stations for Civil Servants. The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) will set up a total of 10 dedicated polling stations for civil servants to facilitate voting for members of the disciplined services and other civil servants on duty at nearby locations, allowing them to return to their work posts quickly after voting. Second, Dedicated Polling Stations for Hospital Authority (HA) Healthcare Staff. The REO will set up a total of seven dedicated polling stations for HA healthcare staff near seven of the largest hospitals, facilitating voting for healthcare staff required to be on duty at those hospitals on polling day. Third, Dedicated Polling Stations for Persons of Ethnic Minorities. On polling day, the REO will set up two dedicated polling stations for persons of ethnic minorities near the Wan Chai Sikh Temple and the Kowloon Mosque, respectively. This is to facilitate voting for ethnic minority voters attending religious activities at these two venues. Additionally, for Polling Stations at Residential Care Homes, to facilitate residents of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) or persons with disabilities (RCHDs) in voting according to their own will in a familiar, safe, and secure environment, the REO will set up polling stations within the premises of these residential care homes. As a pilot arrangement, the REO will provide this service to 11 RCHEs and four RCHDs. These stations will also be open for use by the staff of these homes, allowing them to resume work immediately after voting. The arrangements for the dedicated and outreach polling stations mentioned above will be the same as those for general polling stations. To ensure impartiality, all candidates and their polling agents may apply to observe the polling process within these stations on polling day. Furthermore, regarding Polling Stations Near Boundary Control Points, building on the successful experience of the 2023 District Council Election, the REO will, in this election, not only set up a polling station near the boundary control point in Sheung Shui, but also one at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Passenger Clearance Building and one at the Hong Kong International Airport. This will further facilitate voters traveling to and from the Mainland and overseas, as well as voters who are required to be on duty at these two locations on polling day. For the Registration Method, voters who intend to use the polling stations near boundary control points must register in advance to have their polling location changed from their original station to the relevant boundary station. Registration details will be uploaded to the dedicated election website later. The new pilot arrangements for the dedicated polling stations and polling stations at residential care homes are only applicable to designated voter groups. The REO will contact the relevant policy bureaus, departments, and organisations to handle the corresponding registration arrangements. Justice Luk Kai-hong said, 'As brand new pilot arrangements, the EAC and the REO will ensure all preparatory work proceeds smoothly. We will ensure the relevant electoral work is conducted openly, fairly, honestly, safely, and in an orderly manner, and further humanise the voting arrangements. The EAC will conduct a review of all electoral arrangements, including these new measures, after the election concludes. The relevant review findings and recommendations will be set out in the election report.' Regarding Polling Hours, Justice Luk Kai-hong also announced the arrangement to extend polling hours at the press conference. He said, 'Recently, we have also heard many opinions hoping for an adjustment of polling hours. This is to facilitate voters who may be unable to vote within the existing 14-hour polling period due to reasons such as work or duty arrangements, the need to handle personal or family matters, or participation in travel tours heading north on that day. After careful consideration, we will extend the polling hours. They will start one hour earlier at 7:30 a.m. and end one hour later at 11:30 p.m., providing a total polling time of 16 hours.' The REO had earlier prepared the poll cards and related information to be sent to all electors in Hong Kong. The polling hours stated therein (8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) have now been changed. In light of the new polling hours, the REO will mail another notice to all electors statewide, specifying the new polling hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m." 09:08 - 12:52 (Soundbite)(Cantonese) Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Saying: "As the Chief Executive has repeatedly emphasized, the 8th Legislative Council Election on December 7 is a major event in Hong Kong's process of advancing from governance to prosperity. It is a major event for accelerating economic development and improving people's livelihoods, and a major event that concerns you, me, and every Hong Kong citizen. Therefore, the SAR Government attaches great importance to this LegCo General Election and hopes that all electors will vote actively to elect a new term of Legislative Council Members who love the country and Hong Kong, hold a firm stance, are capable, responsible, and passionate. Over the past period, the Government has actively conducted a series of election activities, including organising the "Executive and Legislature United in Administering Hong Kong, Creating the Future" seminar, the Legislative Council General Election Kick-off Ceremony, and holding "Election into the Community" roving interactive exhibitions across the territory. Principal Officials have also used various methods, such as filming videos, visiting districts to interact directly with the public, or during routine public events and exchanges with relevant industry groups, to promote the message of engaging in the election and creating the future together. This is all intended to deepen the public's important understanding of improving the electoral system and implementing "patriots administering Hong Kong," whereby the executive and legislative branches mutually promote each other, contributing to the steady and long-term implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" and the good governance of the SAR. It also allows the public to understand that the December 7 LegCo election is closely related to Hong Kong's livelihood, economic development, and the personal well-being of every citizen. Therefore, we appeal to everyone to actively support it and vote enthusiastically. The series of "Patriots Administering Hong Kong, United in Heart" 2025 Legislative Council Election Forums, which began this Tuesday (November 11), has further enhanced the public's and voters' knowledge and understanding of the candidates. Candidates can also fully demonstrate their platforms, views, philosophies, and aspirations to seek voters' support. We are also very pleased to see that all sectors of society have actively responded to the call of the Chief Executive and the Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), engaging in the election with unity of purpose. Many institutions, enterprises, organisations, and groups are also jointly spreading the message of engaging in the election, shouldering their social responsibility, encouraging their staff to vote actively on polling day, and providing various voting conveniences for their employees. With the joint efforts of the Government and all sectors of the community, the election atmosphere in society has become very enthusiastic recently. I am very grateful to the EAC and the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) who, even while actively preparing for all aspects of the election, have maintained an attitude of "discerning change, adapting to change, and seeking change" in electoral matters. They are constantly advancing with the times, striving for excellence, and daring to innovate, launching a series of new pilot arrangements to make the election more efficient, more human-centric, and better aligned with the needs of the public, striving to allow every voter to exercise their voting rights and fulfill their civic duty more conveniently and quickly. I thank the EAC for its long-standing sincere and close cooperation with the SAR Government. I also take this opportunity to once again appeal to all electors in Hong Kong to fulfill your civic duty and social responsibility on the Legislative Council polling day, December 7. For Hong Kong, our common home, cast your important and crucial vote to elect the Legislative Council Members who represent you. Thank you." 12:53 - 15:00 Natalie Chan Shuk-wa, Chief Electoral Officer of Registration and Electoral Office speaking at the press conference 15:01 - 15:20 Five speakers departing from the press conference venue (Video by Gordon Choi/TMHK via Nexpher Images)
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