Hong Kong Regulations

ELECTORAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION (ELECTORAL PROCEDURE) (ELECTION COMMITTEE) REGULATION - SECT 72

Returning Officer to open ballot box

(1) A Returning Officer into whose charge a ballot box is given must, at the
counting zone of which that Officer is in charge, open it by breaking the
seal. That Officer must do so in the presence of the candidates, their
election agents or counting agents, if present at the counting zone.

(2) The Returning Officer must permit a candidate, or the election  agent or
counting agent of a candidate, to inspect any paper taken from the ballot box,
if so requested by the candidate or agent before the paper is disposed of. A
candidate or an election agent or a counting agent must not be permitted under
this subsection to inspect a ballot paper.