Residents in Hong Kong received a text message reminder from the Registration and Electoral Office in on Sunday afternoon to votes in the LegCo election.

“Please cast your valuable vote between 7.30am and 11.30pm(except designated & outreach polling stations),” the message says, reminding that Sunday is the polling day.

A China Daily journalist received the message at 12:56 pm from a sender marked as #HKGOVREO.

At 1:30 pm, 627,139 out of total 4,131,298 voters – or 15.18 percent – in geographical constituencies cast their votes.

In the functional constituencies, 35,601 out of 191,916, or 18.55 percent, voters cast their votes.

Meanwhile, of the total 1,466 votes in the Election Committee constituency, 1,302 or 88.81 percent were cast.

Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) Justice David Lok called on electors to vote.

He, along with EAC members Daniel Shek and Bernard Man, visited the Central Command Centre and the Statistical Information Centre of the 2025 Legislative Council General Election in the morning.

They also inspected the Near Boundary Polling Station at the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2, and the Ordinary Polling Stations located in different districts respectively.

Justice Lok said the EAC observed that the operation of the polling stations was smooth.

“I appeal to all electors across Hong Kong to make use of their sacred votes to elect the new Legislative Council and build a better Hong Kong that we call home together,” he said.

In four hours since the start of voting in the Legislative Council election, 426,900 – or 10.33 percent of the total 4,131,298 voters – cast their votes for the geographical constituencies.

In the functional constituencies, 23,890 out of 191,916, or 12.45 percent, voters have cast their votes.

Meanwhile, in the Election Committee constituencies, 1,137 or 77.56 percent of total 1,466 votes were cast.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki cast his vote at PLK Siu Hon Sum Primary School in Fo Tan on Sunday morning.

Talking to reporters after casting his vote, he said reforms after the deadly Tai Po fire necessitate the supervision of the city’s legislature, stressing that a new batch of lawmakers is needed to avoid a “vacuum” in governance.

Chief Executive John Lee also connected his call for public participation after the Tai Po fire, which has killed at least 159 residents, describing the election as a step toward systemic improvement and support for affected residents.

He pledged that supporting the fire victims would be a top priority for the government in collaboration with the incoming Legislative Council.

“The first meeting of the Legislative Council will discuss support for the disaster victims,” he said. “We will consult with Legislative Council members as soon as possible. Through our discussions, we aim to find the truth swiftly and expedite recovery and reconstruction efforts.”

CE John Lee urged all eligible voters to cast their ballots for representatives who will “drive reform and safeguard disaster victims”.

He described the experience as “convenient and smooth”, praising arrangements such as dedicated polling stations and a two-hour extension of voting hours to facilitate public participation.

By 8:30 am, 67,991 voters in geographical constituencies cast their votes, which is 1.65 percent of the total 4,131,298 votes.

In the functional constituencies, 4,438 out of 191,916, or 2.31 percent, voters cast their votes.

Meanwhile, of the total 1,466 votes in the Election Committee constituency, 227 or 15.48 percent were cast.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is among the early voters in the 2025 Legislative Council election. He cast his ballot shortly after polling opened at Raimondi College in Central.

His wife Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim also accompanied the CE and cast her vote there.

The CE later talked to the media.

Some voters were seen on Sunday morning at the Hong Kong Teachers' Association Lee Heng Kwei Secondary School polling center, who were supposed to cast their votes at other centers had the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court not taken place.

One elector surnamed Wong, became emotional and wiped her tears as a China Daily photographer requested her for a photo.

Because of the fire, three polling stations have been relocated. Stations originally at Tai Po Baptist Public School, Kwong Fuk Community Hall, and Tai Po Community Centre have been relocated to Hong Kong Teachers' Association Lee Heng Kwei Secondary School, Sung Tak Wong Kin Sheung Memorial School, and Law Ting Pong Secondary School, respectively.