China News Service, Hong Kong, December 12 (Reporter Han Xingtong) The seventh district council general election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was held on December 10. More than 10 District Council (GC) ordinary polling stations were opened across the territory, providing about 600.433 million electors to cast their votes. This is the first large-scale election in Hong Kong after the HKSAR improved its district governance system and reshaped its district councils.
In addition to GC ordinary polling stations, there are 18 polling stations for the District Committee (GC) constituency for about 2500,24 voters of the GC constituency and 171 dedicated polling stations. The 44 candidates in the geographical constituency elections will contest 88 seats in the 228 constituencies, while the 18 candidates in the District Committee constituency elections will contest 176 seats in <> constituencies.
Polling time is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for geographical constituencies and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the local committee constituency.
At about 8:30 a.m. that morning, the reporter saw outside the general polling station at the Catholic Mingyuan Middle School that dozens of citizens had lined up in the morning to vote, and the scene was orderly. Clear signs such as "This is the way to the polling station" were posted around the polling station, and staff were also on hand to assist voters.
After the HKSAR reshaped its district councils and improved its district governance system, the district councils returned to their position as non-political advisory bodies. The new term of the District Councils will comprise appointed members, members returned from the District Committee constituency and members returned from the District Council geographical constituencies, with a ratio of about 4:4:2, plus 27 ex-officio members, bringing the total number of District Council members to 470.
The eligibility system was introduced for the new District Councils. The District Council Eligibility Review Committee completed the examination of the nominations of 11 candidates in November and found that all the candidates met the statutory requirements and conditions for upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and swearing allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and ruled that their nominations were valid.
In addition, the new District Councils have also introduced a monitoring mechanism for DC members to ensure that they discharge their duties. (ENDS)