Elders and caretakers satisfied with the convenience of new voting arrangements and assistance

Over 170 elderly centers provided transportation or accompaniment to help elderly citizens vote on polling day, with the majority satisfied with the arrangements and assistance.

The Social Welfare Department subsidized a total of HK$3.4 million - HK$20,000 to each participating care center - to provide the elderly residents with the convenience of voting on polling day.

Chan Wing-wai, who was in charge of the Wilson T.S. Wang District Elderly Community Center, said they used the fund for car rentals and also respite services to make it easier for elderly citizens and their caregivers to vote.

In previous years when there were no subsidies, the center could only arrange for volunteers to escort seniors to the polling station. However, with the funds this year, more centers were able to provide better transportation and accompaniment services.

A 96-year-old woman, surnamed Au Yeung, was happy with the voting arrangement that allowed her to fulfill her civic responsibility. 

She noted that she had not met any of the District Council election candidates in person but had received leaflets from them and kept herself informed by watching TV. 

Au Yeung said she did not know where the polling stations were and just followed the street signs in the past elections, but this time, the transportation provided by the center made voting much more convenient for her.