LegCo Panel on Constitutional Affairs observes demonstration of electronic counting system for LegCo functional constituency election
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Constitutional Affairs visited the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (October 13) to observe a demonstration of the electronic counting system (ECS) for the functional constituency (FC) election of the 2025 LegCo General Election.
Members first received a briefing by representatives of the REO on the design and operation of the ECS, as well as the preparatory work regarding the use of the ECS, including system testing, workflow design and contingency plans to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the entire counting process. Members then observed the demonstration of the ECS, and exchanged views with representatives of the Government on the relevant workflow.
The 2025 LegCo General Election will be held on December 7. Members noted that the new ECS had been successfully deployed for the first time during the Election Committee subsector by-elections in September this year. The system will be utilized for the FC election in the upcoming LegCo General Election to enhance the vote-counting efficiency.
A total of 13 members and non-members of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs participated in the visit.
LegCo Panel on Constitutional Affairs observes demonstration of electronic counting system for LegCo functional constituency election Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Panel on Constitutional Affairs observes demonstration of electronic counting system for LegCo functional constituency election Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Panel on Constitutional Affairs observes demonstration of electronic counting system for LegCo functional constituency election Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FSD and BD conduct joint inspection and enforcement operation against industrial buildings
In response to earlier media reports on fire safety issues in certain industrial buildings, the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Buildings Department (BD) are highly concerned about the situation and conducted a joint inspection and enforcement operation targeting industrial buildings from December 29 to 31, 2025, with a view to ensuring public safety.
An industrial building in Kwun Tong, Photo by Bastille Post
The FSD and the BD inspected a total of nine industrial buildings located in various districts in Kowloon and the New Territories during the joint operation. The fire personnel identified a total of 261 irregularities related to various fire hazards, such as obstruction or locking of means of escape, defective or wedged-open smoke stop doors, as well as fire service installations or equipment (FSIs) that were defective or not in efficient working order. The FSD took immediate enforcement action against the persons concerned.
An industrial building in Kwun Tong, Photo by Bastille Post
Among the cases related to obstruction of means of escape, the FSD instituted three prosecutions and issued 22 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs), requiring the persons concerned to abate the fire hazards within a specified period. Should they fail to comply with the requirements of the FHANs within the period, the FSD will institute resolute prosecution. In addition, inspections revealed that some buildings had defective smoke stop doors and FSIs. The FSD will issue FHANs to the persons concerned and continue to take follow-up action.
The Buildings Department (BD), Photo source: reference image
The BD identified 13 subdivided flats suspected of being used illegally for domestic purposes. Further investigations are now under way, and letters have been sent to the relevant owners and occupiers asking them to contact the BD as soon as possible to arrange an inspection of their flats. Otherwise, the BD will consider applying for a court warrant to enter the premises for inspection. If it is confirmed that the flats in question have been used for illegal domestic purposes, the BD will take enforcement action in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance, including ordering the cessation of illegal domestic use and rectify the dangerous situations. The BD also identified in the operation that there was dilapidation in the exit staircases of one of the industrial buildings, but no obvious danger to the overall building structure was noted. The BD has issued a repair order to the owners' corporation for conducting the necessary repair work.
The Fire Services Department (FSD), Photo source: reference image
Apart from inspection and enforcement, the FSD also carried out fire prevention education and publicity at the same time during the operation to enhance fire safety awareness among owners and occupiers of industrial buildings, thereby mitigating fire risk from the source. The BD has also long been promoting building safety and the proper use of buildings through various channels, including distributing themed posters to management offices of industrial buildings for displaying in prominent places to serve as a reminder to owners and occupiers that industrial buildings must not be used illegally for domestic purposes.
