Vote Counting for 2025 Legislative Council Election Completed Smoothly, Turnout at 31.9%

Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

The counting of votes for the 2025 Legislative Council General Election (LCGE) was completed smoothly at around 6am today (December 8). The poll closed at 11.30pm last night (December 7) and the counting of about 1 317 680 geographical constituency (GC) ballot papers, about 76 940 functional constituency ballot papers and 1 458 Election Committee constituency ballot papers commenced soon afterward.

"For the LCGE, about 1 317 682 electors have cast their votes, with a cumulative GC turnout rate of 31.9 per cent. Overall, the polling and counting processes proceeded smoothly and all arrangements for the LCGE have reflected the principle of openness, honesty and fairness. The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) is satisfied with the arrangements," the Chairman of the EAC, Mr Justice David Lok, said on the conclusion of the LCGE.

The EAC is very thankful to the bureaux/departments (B/Ds) involved in the LCGE, especially the Crisis Management Committee members which include the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Digital Policy Office, the Home Affairs Department, the Information Services Department, the Department of Justice, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Observatory for their full support in various aspects. In addition, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and other law enforcement agencies have made appropriate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the LCGE. The EAC would also like to thank the Technical Advisory Committee for their valuable professional input to the election-related mission critical systems.

There were more than 600 polling stations in the LCGE with polling duration extended to 16 hours. Also added in the LCGE were various new electoral work under the pilot arrangements, including introducing Designated Polling Stations for the groups of electors with specific needs such as civil servants, healthcare staff and ethnic minorities residents; providing outreach polling service to electors residing in residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities; as well as increasing the number of Near Boundary Polling Stations. After the fire in Tai Po, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) needed to make adjustments for three polling stations in the district within a short period of time. With the full assistance by the Government Logistics Department, and the efforts of staff members of the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department under the "government-wide mobilisation" mechanism, free feeder transportation services were offered to the affected electors during the polling hours so that they can travel to the reallocated polling stations conveniently to cast their votes. The aforesaid arrangements posed substantial challenges to the whole election process. In this connection, the EAC extends its special thanks to the staff of the REO and the polling and counting staff for their contributions and efforts made in coping with a large amount of work in their respective positions; as well as the heads of various B/Ds for nominating electoral staff for the LCGE, and for approving them to leave their positions briefly to participate in trainings and drills arranged by the REO which enabled the election be held smoothly and orderly.

As prescribed by the law, the EAC will submit a report on the review of the electoral arrangements of the LCGE to the Chief Executive within three months.

Last but not least, the EAC would like to thank all electors who have voted for casting their sacred votes and electing the new Legislative Council. The EAC is also thankful to the media for reporting the electoral affairs; and candidates and their agents for their co-operation, so that the polling and counting processes were conducted openly, honestly and fairly, and in a safe, orderly and efficient manner.

Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Counting of votes for Legislative Council General Election completed smoothly Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kai Tak today

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Kai Tak this afternoon (January 12). While a male worker was detaching the lifting gear connected to the top of a water tank, the water tank displaced suddenly, trapping the worker between the water tank and a bored pile casing nearby. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of mobile cranes for lifting operation at site concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

To prevent workers from being struck or trapped by loads when engaged in unrigging process, the LD reminds employers to (i) ensure that the place supporting the loads is secure; and (ii) formulate proper unrigging methods for detaching lifting gear so as to prevent displacement of the objects in the course of unrigging operations.

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: AI-found images