Hong Kong Regulations

ELECTORAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION (ELECTORAL PROCEDURE) (DISTRICT COUNCILS) REGULATION - SECT 76

Counting of votes

(Past version on 01/08/1999).

(1) At the counting zone for each counting station, the ballot  papers for
that counting station must be dealt with by the Presiding  Officer as provided
in this section. (L.N. 125 of 2003)

(2) The Presiding Officer of a main counting station must mix the
ballot papers of the polling station designated as the main counting  station
together with the ballot papers that have been delivered from one or more
small polling stations or special polling stations to the main 
counting station before counting the votes at the main counting station. (L.N.
125 of 2003 and L.N. 191 of 2003)

(3) Ballot papers are to be sorted with reference to the candidate for which
the vote has been recorded.

(4) The votes recorded on the ballot papers are to be counted according to the
system of counting described in section 41 of the District Councils Ordinance
( Cap 547).

(5) In the course of counting in accordance with subsection (4)-

   (a)  any ballot paper-

        (i)    which appears to have any writing or mark by which the elector
               can possibly be identified;

        (ii)   which appears to be not marked in accordance with section  58
               (2);

        (iii)  which appears to be substantially mutilated; or

        (iv)   which appears to be void for uncertainty, is questionable and
               shall be separated and forwarded to the Presiding  Officer to
               decide whether the vote should be counted in accordance with
               section 79; and

   (b)  any ballot paper described in section 78(1)(b), (c), (d), (f),

   (g)  and (i) shall be separated and shall not be counted pursuant to
        section 78. (L.N. 125 of 2003)