Hong Kong Regulations

ELECTORAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION (ELECTORAL PROCEDURE) (LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL) REGULATION - SECT 74

Arrangements for separating ballot papers and verifying ballot paper account at central counting station

(Past version on 05/05/2000).
(Past version on 27/02/1998).
(Past version on 21/01/1998).

(1) At the central counting station, the Returning Officer for a
functional constituency must, in relation to the FC ballot papers in the
ballot boxes given into that Officer's charge under section 72, in the
counting zone for that functional constituency-

   (a)  sort the FC ballot papers according to each functional  constituency;

   (b)  count and record the number of FC ballot papers for each
        functional constituency;

   (c)  verify the ballot paper account for each functional  constituency by
        comparing it with the number of ballot papers recorded for that
        functional constituency under paragraph (b);

   (d)  prepare a statement in writing as to the result of the verification;

   (e)  retain the FC ballot papers for the functional constituency for which
        that Officer is appointed together with the verification of the 
        ballot paper account;

   (f)  make into separate bundles the other sorted FC ballot papers together
        with the relevant verification of the ballot paper account, place each
        bundle in a separate receptacle and seal it in the presence of those
        present at the counting zone; and

   (g)  in case there are any GC ballot papers in the ballot boxes- (L.N. 84
        of 2004)

        (i)    sort the GC ballot papers according to each geographical 
               constituency;

        (ii)   count and record the number of GC ballot papers for each
               geographical constituency;

        (iii)  prepare a statement in writing as to the number of GC ballot 
               papers recorded for each geographical constituency under
               subparagraph (ii);

        (iv)   make into separate bundles the sorted GC ballot papers together
               with the relevant statement prepared under subparagraph (iii),
               place each bundle in a separate receptacle and seal it in the
               presence of those present at the counting zone. (L.N. 65 of
               2000; L.N. 84 of 2004)

(2) (Repealed L.N. 84 of 2004)

(3)-(4) (Repealed L.N. 65 of 2000)

(5) If a Returning Officer considers it necessary or if required by a
candidate who is present at the counting zone or an election agent or
counting agent so present, that Officer must, in preparing the
verification of the ballot paper account, compare the ballot paper account
with the ballot papers recorded by that Officer and the spoilt ballot  papers,
the unused ballot papers and the counterfoils or un-issued ballot papers.

(6)-(7) (Repealed L.N. 65 of 2000)

(8) A Returning Officer must give the receptacles referred to in subsection
(1)(f) or (g)(iv) into the charge of an Assistant Returning  Officer in
attendance at the relevant counting zone. The Assistant Returning Officer-
(L.N. 84 of 2004)

   (a)  must hand over the receptacle containing the bundle of special
        functional constituency ballot papers to the Returning Officer for the
        relevant special functional constituency; (L.N. 140 of 2004)

   (b)  must hand over the receptacle containing the bundle of other FC 
        ballot papers to the Returning Officer for the relevant functional 
        constituency; and

   (c)  must hand over the receptacle containing the bundle of GC 
        ballot papers to the Returning Officer for the relevant geographical 
        constituency. (L.N. 65 of 2000; L.N. 84 of 2004)

(9) (Repealed L.N. 84 of 2004)

(10) A candidate or an election agent or a counting agent may copy what is
recorded on the ballot paper account or the verification of the 
ballot paper account. (L.N. 147 of 1998)