The turnout rate for the election of members for the Fourth Chief Executive Election Committee has exceeded 42 percent by 12 noon today and voting at polling stations was going on smoothly, said the President of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election, Ms Song Man Lei.

Polling began at 9 am today for the election of 400 members of the Chief Executive Election Committee.

Speaking to the press at noon today, Ms Song said the labour sub-sector had so far the highest turnout rate, at more than 55 per cent, and she urged eligible voters to cast their ballots before the polls close at 6 pm this evening.

She added that order was kept inside different polling stations despite ongoing protests outside a few stations.

The Electoral Affairs Commission respected citizens’ right to voice their opinions and at the same time demonstrators should also respect voters’ right to cast their ballots, she noted.

She pointed out that the Electoral Affairs Commission is charged with the duty of ensuring the smooth running of today’s voting. A yellow line is marked outside the entrance of each polling station and people are advised not to stay inside the area marked by the yellow line.

Several people stayed inside the area marked by the yellow line outside one polling station this morning, but they finally left the area upon the repeated urgings of election officers.

Ms Song said election officers would only call the police if order outside polling stations was seriously disrupted.

According to Article 142 of the Chief Executive Election Law, it is a criminal offence to disrupt the smooth running of a polling station.

As of noon today, the Electoral Affairs Commission has received 13 complaints of disturbance upon entering and leaving polling stations.

The commission is looking into these complaints, she added.