More near-boundary polling stations could be in place for next LegCo election: Erick Tsang

Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, announced on Sunday that they are exploring adding near-boundary polling stations for the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) election.This initiative aims to ease voting for mainland residents who want to return to Hong Kong to vote.

He added that the government also plans to keep using electronic poll registers and vote counting systems.

During a TV program, Tsang said he would improve and expand near-boundary polling stations to give voters more options.  

He emphasized that the current electoral system aligns with Hong Kong's long-term development goals and merits continued support without any immediate need for changes.  

Reflecting on the anti-extradition bill protests of 2019, Tsang noted that the events led to extreme societal disruptions, including incidents where individuals burned and trampled the national flag and insulted the country.  

Yet, he highlighted a positive shift in public sentiment, noting that five years later, the community participates in National Day celebrations, organizes various activities, and shows respect for national symbols. Tsang pointed out the enthusiastic participation of many, including children who proudly display the national flag, as indicative of Hong Kong's promising future.  

In the previous year's District Council election, authorities established two near-border polling stations for the first time, located at secondary schools near the Sheung Shui MTR station. Out of 13,000 registered voters, over 9,900 attended these polling stations.  

The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) found that these voting stations met voters' needs. However, the team identified issues with the online registration system. Many voters thought they had registered. But, upon arrival, they found their registration was incomplete.