Make early announcements if no polling stations at border points: Paul Tse

Authorities should make announcements as early as possible if they cannot set up polling stations at border points for the upcoming Legislative Council election in December, lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun said.

If it becomes possible, eligible voters who are living on the mainland can return to the SAR in advance to cast their ballots on the election day on December 19.

Authorities have said they have been mulling setting up polling stations at Hong Kong-Shenzhen border points -- a special arrangement for Hongkongers living on the mainland who want to vote but do not want to go through quarantine upon returning to the mainland.

But Tse said on Tuesday that such polling arrangements are highly complex, as it does not only involve Hong Kong authorities, but also mainland counterparts.

"It would be better to simply let the voters know, rather than dragging on the issue, which I believe cannot be done this time,” he said.

Border issues aside, an electronic poll register system will be adopted to distribute ballot papers at polling stations on the Legco election day, so voters will no longer have to wait in lines.

But lawmakers are worried that staffers at polling stations will not be familiar with the system, which will in turn create even longer queues and deter people from casting their votes.

Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Alice Mak Mei-kuen said she is very worried about the new system, as she pointed out the need for back-up plans if the system unfortunately breaks down.