Voters line up at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai to cast their ballots in the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections on Sept 19, 2021 (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
The 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections in Hong Kong, the first polls under the city’s new electoral system, opened on Sunday morning with many voters arriving early at polling stations to cast their votes.
A total of 412 candidates from 13 subsectors, including financial services, insurance, education, legal, and technology and innovation, are competing for 364 seats.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said Sunday morning that the elections will bring a new development to Hong Kong when she inspected the polling station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The elections will lay a sound foundation for the upcoming elections for the Legislative Council and the chief executive, she said.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor inspects the polling station for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
The Election Committee, expanded from 1,200 members to 1,500, is tasked with nominating candidates for chief executive and the 90-member Legislative Council, and electing the chief executive and 40 lawmakers
The voting hours at five ordinary polling stations and one dedicated station run from 9 am to 6 pm.
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Shortly after 9 am, the polling station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai was already packed with the first batch of voters.
The other polling stations at venues including the Kowloon Park Sports Center, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall and Tsuen Wan Princess Alexandra Community Center also saw a steady arrival of voters who lined up outside the stations in an orderly manner.Shortly after 9 am, the polling station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai was already packed with the first batch of voters.
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Before entering the polling stations, many people took photos with the banners at the entrance as mementos of this special occasion.
Sunday’s balloting is the first since the nation’s top legislature adopted a decision in March on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Election Committee, expanded from 1,200 members to 1,500, is tasked with nominating candidates for chief executive and the 90-member Legislative Council, and electing the chief executive and 40 lawmakers.
In addition to the 364 seats that candidates will compete for, the remaining seats for 27 subsectors are filled automatically, with some being ex-officio members.
Voters line up outside a polling station in Kowloon Park to cast their ballots for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections on Sep 19, 2021. (GEORGE CHAN / CHINA DAILY)
For the contested 364 seats, about 5,000 registered voters of the contested subsectors will cast their ballots. The Registration and Electoral Office earlier had mailed poll cards and polling locations to registered voters.
Under today’s polling arrangement, an electronic register system will be introduced to the city’s elections for the first time. The system enables those working at polling stations to check voters’ identity and allows voters to double-check their own information on electronic screens.
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In addition, one special line was set up at each polling station for voters aged 70 or above, those who are pregnant and those who have difficulty standing for a long time.
After the polls end at 6 pm, all ballot boxes will be delivered to the central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The public are allowed to enter the counting venue and see the counting process on a first-come, first-served basis.
