Last call: Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam calls on registered voters, especially younger ones, to cast their vote.

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam hopes the 2003 District Council Election's voter turnout rate will be higher than the 35% seen in 1999.

The Government wants to see a higher level of public participation in Hong Kong's public affairs. Voters, especially young people, should cherish their right to vote, he said.

Last year, the Government had a registration rate of 39% among those who were 18 to 25 years old. That has increased to 43% this year.

However, this is still lower than the overall registration rate of 66%, he told the media before the recording of a TV special programme on the election.

This year the Government has urged young people to register as voters. It is important to have a new generation of young people acquiring the civic right to vote, he said.

Mr Lam stressed that it is important for electors to exercise their voting right and choose the right people to represent them in the District Councils.