A couple walks to a polling station in Mong Kok to vote in the 2021 Legislative Council General Election on Dec 19, 2021. (RAYMOND CHAN / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG - Polls in the election for the seventh-term Legislative Council closed shortly before 11 pm on Sunday, about half an hour later than originally scheduled due to technical glitches at 11 polling stations.
It is the first LegCo election since the improvements to Hong Kong's electoral system. The membership of the seventh-term LegCo will increase from 70 to 90, and the members are elected by the Election Committee constituency (40 seats), functional constituencies (30 seats), and geographical constituencies (20 seats), respectively.
After polling hours, most polling stations were turned into counting stations for geographical constituency votes.
The ballot boxes of all functional constituencies and the Election Committee constituency were delivered to the central counting station at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for counting.
11:50 pm Traffic mostly smooth on polling day
The Transport Department said traffic conditions were mostly smooth and public transport services were generally adequate to meet demand on the election day.
Various public transport operators, including the MTR Corporation, franchised bus operators and Hong Kong Tramways, provided free rides for the public on Sunday.
The public transport operators have enhanced services for busier routes and during peak periods in response to the higher than usual passenger demand, the department said.
"Besides, the operators have altogether deployed more than 600 frontline staff to provide assistance in maintaining the waiting and boarding order at major platforms of MTR stations, bus stops and tram stops."
11:42 pm CE thanks voters
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor thanked more than 1.3 million voters who have cast their votes Sunday. In a statement, Lam said she is confident that the seventh-term LegCo can effectively enhance the governance efficiency of Hong Kong and open a new chapter on good administration and governance.
"I look forward to cooperating sincerely with members of the new term of the LegCo to promote together Hong Kong's economic development and its integration into the overall development of the nation as well as improvements to people's livelihoods to build a better Hong Kong and contribute to the country," she said.
11:20 pm First ballot box opened
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Barnabas Fung Wah and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai opened the first ballot box of the Legislative Council election at the central counting station.
Barnabas Fung Wah, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (2nd right), and Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs (2nd left), open the first ballot box of the Legislative Council election at the central counting station at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
10:52 pm Polling closes
Polling of the 7th-term Legislative Council election at all polling stations closed.
Electoral staff prepare for vote counting at the central counting station at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
10:35 pm Polling hours at 3 more polling stations extended
The Electoral Affairs Commission announced that polling hours at the polling stations at Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui St. Thomas' Church and Wong Tai Sin Community Centre will be extended to 10:40 pm and 10:33 pm respectively as the poll for the Legislative Council election was interrupted by unstable network connection earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the polling hours at the polling station Caritas St. Joseph Secondary School will also be extended to 10:40 pm as the poll was interrupted earlier in the day due to problem of power connection of the Electronic Poll Register system.
10 pm Preparation for vote counting
Electoral staff prepared for vote counting at the Central Counting Station and Media Centre at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai around 30 minutes before polling ended.
Electoral staff prepare for vote counting at the central counting station at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
8:38 pm Polling hours at Tsing Yi polling station extended
8:37 pm Polling hours at Kowloon polling station extended
The Electoral Affairs Commission said the polling hours for the polling station at Kowloon Technical School will be extended for 10 minutes to 10:40 pm as poll for the Legislative Council election there was interrupted for 10 minutes at 8:38 am due to power failure.
8:36 pm Polling hours at Kwai Fong polling station extended
The Electoral Affairs Commission said the polling hours for the polling station at Buddhist Lim Kim Tian Memorial Primary School in Kwai Fong will be extended for 15 minutes to 10:45pm as poll for the Legislative Council election there was interrupted for 15 minutes at 1:58 pm earlier in the day due to unstable operation of the Electronic Poll Register system.
8:30 pm Polling closes in 2 hours
Electors arrive in a Tseung Kwan O polling station to cast their ballots around 2 hours before the polling closes.
Electors arrive at a polling station to cast their votes in the Legislative Council election, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong, Dec 19, 2021. (RAYMOND CHAN / CHINA DAILY)
7:19 pm Polling hours extended at Shek Tong Tsui polling station
The Electoral Affairs Commission said the poll for the Legislative Council election was interrupted for 22 minutes by unstable network connection at 11:05 am today at the polling station at Po Leung Kuk Tian Teck Proactive Concern Centre for the Elderly in Shek Tong Tsui.
The EAC decided to extend the polling hours for the station for 22 minutes to 10:52 pm for the affected electors to cast their votes.
6:30 pm More than 1.1 million have voted
Ten hours into the start of polling for the 2021 Legislative Council election, 1,117,549 voters from the geographical constituencies or 24.99 percent of the registered electors, have voted by 18:30 pm, according to the Registration and Electoral Office. In the functional constituencies, 57,282 have voted, with a voter turnout of 26.18 percent. For the Election Committee constituency, 1,401 members have cast their votes, accounting for 96.75 percent of the committee’s total members.
5:20 pm China Daily reporters get ready at media center
China Daily's reporters got prepared at the Central Counting Station and Media Centre at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Candidates and agents, Election Committee members and members of the public will be able to observe the counting of votes and the announcement of election results within the central counting station.
(IDA XUE / CHINA DAILY)
5:05 pm Polling hours extended at some polling stations
The Electoral Affairs Commission announced that polling hours at four polling stations will be slightly extended as the opening of the Legislative Council poll was delayed this morning. The commission cited longer time used to complete specific procedures before the start of the poll for the delay.
Polling will end at 10:39 pm at the polling station at Cheung Sha Wan Sports Centre, at 10:38 pm at the polling station at Ho Tak Kindergarten (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), at 10:34 pm at the polling station at Castle Peak Catholic Primary School, and at 10:32 pm at the polling station at The Education University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Primary School.
4 pm EAC chair urges electors to vote
Barnabas Fung Wah, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, visited the polling station at Jockey Club Government Secondary School.
Fung called on registered electors to exercise their civil rights to vote in the 2021 Legislative Council General Election today. He reminded electors to bring the original of their Hong Kong identity card to the polling station specified on the poll card to vote.
Barnabas Fung Wah (left), chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, visits the polling station at Jockey Club Government Secondary School to inspect the operation of the polling station of the 2021 Legislative Council General Election, Hong Kong, Dec 19, 2021. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
3:42 pm Secrutiy chief visits polling stations
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung visited the polling stations in various districts, including Mong Kwok, Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Chung, Tuen Mun and Hong Kong Island West.
Tang said that this election is of large scale and of paramount importance to all people in Hong Kong. With the determined efforts by relevant government departments and their staff in carrying out the preparatory work, the election could be conducted in a smooth and orderly manner.
He also said that the new Electronic Poll Register system for issuing ballot papers is operating smoothly which enabled him to complete the voting process in a short period of time.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung talks to the special constables stationed at a polling station in Wong Tai Sin during the 2021 Legislative Council General Election, Hong Kong, Dec 19, 2021. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
3:30 pm Cumulative turnout rate in Election Committee constituency hit 90%
The cumulative turnout rate in the Election Committee constituency of the seventh-term Legislative Council election hit 90.06 percent as of 3:30 pm local time.
3:20 pm Free bus ride
A man tapped his Octopus card at a device to enjoy a free bus ride in Tai Po district. Most public transport operators, including the MTRC, Kowloon Motor Bus, Citybus, New World First Bus and Hong Kong Tramways, offered free services across the territory on the election day.
A man taps his Octopus card to enjoy a free bus ride in Tai Po district, Hong Kong on the Legislative Council election day, Dec 19, 2021. (PHOTO / EDMOND TANG)
12:30 pm More than 560,000 vote in first four hours
By 12:30 pm, 540,336 voters or 12.08 percent of the Geographical Constituencies of the registered voters have cast their ballots, according to the Registration and Electoral Office. In the Functional Constituencies, 25,651 or 11.72 percent have voted, while in the Election Committee constituency, 982 or 67.82 percent have voted.
10:15 am Justice chief votes
Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah cast her ballot at the German Swiss International School polling station at the Peak.
Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah casts her ballot in the Legislative Council General Election 2021 at the German Swiss International School polling station at the Peak, Dec 19, 2021. (RAYMOND CHAN / CHINA DAILY)
9:38 am CE votes
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor cast her vote at Raimondi College polling station in Central.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng yuet-ngor votes at Raimondi College, Central, during the Legislative Council elections on Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
9:30 am 142,304 people vote in first hour
In the first hour after polling stations opened at 8:30 am, 142,304 electors or 3.18 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots, according to the Registration and Electoral Office.
Policemen ensure security outside the Raimondi College polling station in Central on Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
9:30 am Finance chief votes
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po voted at South Island School.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po votes in the 2021 Legislative Council General Election at South Island School on Dec 19, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
9:15 am Chief secretary votes
Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu cast his vote at Yaumati Kaifong Association School.
Lee urged voters to come out and vote to foil those who want to derail the 2021 Legislative Council General Election.
“Well, I would tell them to come out without any doubt because you can see that under the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’, those who are excluded are those who act against Hong Kong's interests; are those traitors who will not be acting for the overall good of Hong Kong,” Lee said after voting.
“As you can see previously, we had legislators who sabotaged the Legislative Council sessions, delayed the processes of scrutinizing legislation or funding applications. So these people who have been excluded under the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’ will be trying their best to make today's election not a success. We have to ensure that they will not succeed so we will make the election a success. That's why we need to come out to vote,” he said.
Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu casts his vote in the Legislative Council General Election at Yaumati Kaifong Association School on Dec 19, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
8:50 am Free rides
Po Lam residents enjoyed free rides on the MTR as most forms of public transportation in the city are free this LegCo election day.
A notice of free rides on the MTR is seen at the Po Lam Station on Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
8:30 am Voting begins
630 polling stations opened across Hong Kong for the LegCo elections. The voting hours run from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm.
