Poll workers empty a ballot box for vote counting at the count center for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections in Hong Kong were held smoothly on Sunday, with around 90 percent of the voters casting their ballots.

The 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. 

10:14 pm    Provisional voter turnout at about 90%

The government said in a statement that a total of about 4,380 registered voters had cast their votes in the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections from 9 am to the close of the poll, representing a provisional cumulative turnout rate of about 90 percent. The voter turnout figures are for temporary reference only, it added. 

9:15 pm        Admission quota at public gallery full

The government said in a statement the admission quota for the public gallery in the media center at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is full. Members of the public are urged against going there.

9:10 pm        Ballot boxes opened for vote counting

Officials, including Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, emptied a ballot box for vote counting at the count center. 

Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (2nd left) and Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Barnabas Fung Wah (2nd right), together with other officials, empty a ballot box for vote counting at the count center at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 19, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

8:40 pm        Govt: Elections held successfully 

In a statement, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the voter turnout rate of nearly 90 percent reflected the support for the new electoral system by members of various subsectors.

Lam thanked the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, the Electoral Affairs Commission, the Registration and Electoral Office and other personnel for ensuring the elections were conducted in an "open, fair and honest manner". 

8:25 pm        Livestreaming of vote counting

Follow China Daily's livestreaming of the vote counting process at the central counting station here. 

China Daily reporter Azam Khan (left) reports live at the central counting station of the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 19, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

7:35 pm        Ballots arrive for counting

Ballot boxes have begun arriving at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the central counting station is set up.

People transport a ballot box to the central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

7:30 pm        Limited admission quota at public gallery

The government said in a statement that there is limited admission quota left for the public gallery in the media center at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Once the public gallery is full, members of the public will not be able to enter the media center.

6:00 pm        Polls close

Voting for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections ended at 6 pm. 

5:40 pm        Voter turnout at 5 pm: 86%

The government said 4,223 voters had cast their ballots as of 5 pm, taking the cumulative turnout rate to 86.38 percent.

4:48 pm        Preparations for vote counting

Election officials got ready at the central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

Election officials prepare to count the votes for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at the central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sept 19, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

4:35 pm       Voter turnout at 4 pm: 80%

A total of 3,936 voters had cast their ballots as of 4 pm, taking the cumulative turnout rate to 80.51 percent, the government said in a statement.

3:21 pm       Voter turnout as of 3 pm: 73%

The government said 3,594 voters had cast their ballots as of 3 pm, taking the cumulative turnout rate to 73.51 percent.   

2:29 pm       Voter turnout as of 2 pm: 66%

Voter turnout in the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections reached 66.09 percent at 2 pm with 3,231 voters casting their ballots, according to a government statement.  

A voter scans the LeaveHomeSafe app before entering a polling station for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at Kowloon Park on Sept 19, 2021. (GEORGE CHAN / CHINA DAILY)   

12:55 pm       Voter turnout as of noon: 46%

The government said 2,245 voters or authorized representatives have voted at around noon, bringing the cumulative turnout rate to 45.92 percent.A voter arrives at a polling station for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at Kowloon Park on Sept 19, 2021. (GEORGE CHAN / CHINA DAILY)

12:53 pm     'Smooth' election

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai visited the polling station at the Sha Tin Town Hall and told the media that he was satisfied that the elections were relatively running smoothly.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai meets the media after visiting the polling station at the Sha Tin Town Hall on Sept 19, 2020. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

11:41 am      Voter turnout at of 11am: Almost 30%

The government said in a statement that 1,450 voters, or 29.66 percent of the 4,889 eligible voters, had cast their ballots as of 11 am.

11:30 am     Fung Wah meets the press

Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Barnabas Fung Wah met the press, calling on voters to be patient as lines may be long at some polling stations.

Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Barnabas Fung Wah meets the press on Sept 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)

10:26 am    Long queues

Long queues appeared at the Kowloon Park polling station as voters waited in patience to cast their ballots.

Voters line up outside a polling station in Kowloon Park to cast their ballots for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections, Hong Kong, Sept 21, 2021. (GEORGE CHAN/CHINA DAILY)

9:10 am     CE inspects polling station

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor inspected the polling station at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Lam said the elections will lay a sound foundation for the upcoming elections for the Legislative Council and the chief executive.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (fourth right) inspects the operation of the polling station of the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Sept 19, 2021. Looking on are Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (third right) and Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Barnabas Fung Wah (second right). (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

9 am   Pollings begin

Polling began for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections. The voting hours at five ordinary polling stations and one dedicated station run from 9 am to 6 pm.Voters take photos outside a polling station for the 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections at the Sha Tin Town Hall on Sept 19, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

8:50 am  Outside Sha Tin Town Hall

Voters started arriving at the polling station at Sha Tin Town Hall before the polls open.

Voters start arriving at the polling station at Sha Tin Town Hall before the polls open, Hong Kong, Sept 19, 2021. (EDMOND TANG/CHINA DAILY)