Hong Kong Regulations

ELECTORAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION (ELECTORAL PROCEDURE) (ELECTION COMMITTEE) REGULATION - SECT 73

Arrangements for counting of votes and verification of the ballot paper account in manual counting

(1) This section applies where the votes cast for the candidates at the
subsector election concerned are to be counted without the use of a computer.

(2) At a central counting station, the Returning Officer must-

   (a)  in relation to the ballot papers in the ballot boxes that have been
        given into that Officer's charge under section 71, at the counting 
        zone of which that Officer is in charge-

        (i)    arrange for the ballot papers to be sorted according to each
               subsector;

        (ii)   arrange for the number of ballot papers to be counted and
               recorded for each subsector;

        (iii)  verify the ballot paper account for each subsector by comparing
               it with the number of ballot papers recorded for that subsector
               under subparagraph (ii);

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

        (v)    retain the ballot papers for the subsector for which that
               Officer is appointed together with the
               verification of the ballot paper  account;

        (vi)   make into separate bundles the other sorted 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

        (vii)  arrange for the Assistant Returning Officer in attendance at
               the counting zone to hand over the receptacles to the
               Returning Officer for the relevant subsector at the
               counting zone for that subsector; and

   (b)  in relation to the ballot papers retained by that Officer under
        paragraph (a)(v) and those handed over to that Officer under paragraph

   (a)  (vii), arrange for the votes recorded on the ballot papers to be
        counted, without the use of a computer, at the counting zone of which
        that Officer is in charge.

(3) At a counting station that is not a central counting station, the
Returning Officer must, in relation to the ballot papers in the ballot boxes
that have been given into that Officer's charge under section 71-

   (a)  arrange for the number of ballot papers to be counted and recorded;

   (b)  verify the ballot paper account by comparing it with the number of
        ballot papers recorded under paragraph (a);

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

   (d)  arrange for the votes recorded on the ballot papers to be counted
        without the use of a computer.

(4) In preparing the verification of the ballot paper account, if the
Returning Officer considers it necessary or if required by a candidate present
at the counting zone or an election agent or a counting agent so present, that
Officer must compare the ballot paper account with-

   (a)  the number of ballot papers recorded for the subsector under
        subsection (2)(a)(ii) or (3)(a), as the case may be; and

   (b)  the number of the counterfoils or un-issued ballot papers, the
        unused ballot papers and the spoilt ballot papers.

(5) A candidate, 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.