The number of registered geographical constituency electors in the 2004 Provisional Register is 3.206 million. Compared with the 2003 Final Register, the number has increased by 232,000.

In accordance with electoral law, the Registration & Electoral Office today released the 2004 Provisional Registers for public inspection until June 29.

During the registration campaign, held from April 3 to May 16, the office received about 497,000 geographical constituency application forms. Of those, 286,000 (57.6%) were applications for new registration as geographical constituency electors and 203,000 (40.8%) were for change of particulars. The remaining 8,000 (1.5%) were invalid.

The Immigration and Housing Departments also referred 180,000 cases to the office for updating particulars of registered electors.

About 15,000 functional constituency application forms were received.

200,000 provisional registrations

The office sent more than 34,000 notifications to registered geographical constituency electors who were also known potential functional constituency electors to inform them that, unless they chose not to be registered and notified the department before the specified date, they would be registered as functional constituency electors.

The total number of registered electors in the 2004 Provisional Register is about 200,000.

All validated applications for registration as geographical constituency and functional constituency electors and change of particulars are reflected in the 2004 Provisional Registers.

The Omissions Lists, which contain names and relevant particulars of those who are no longer eligible to have their names included in the registers, are also published.

The office urged all applicants and existing registered electors to check whether their data is correctly recorded in the Provisional Registers to ensure they can vote in the Legislative Council election on September 12.

Any person who has applied for registration, but does not find their name in the registers, or whose name is included in the Omissions Lists, or who find their entries are incorrectly recorded in the registers, may lodge a notice of claim in person with the department by June 29.

In addition, any person who considers that a registered person is not eligible to be registered as an elector may lodge a notice of objection in person with the department by June 29.

Forms available

Specified forms for claim and objection are available from the office or downloadable from its website.

Hard copies of the Provisional Register and Omissions List for geographical constituencies are available for public inspection at the REO (10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai); and, all District Offices (only the section of the register that includes geographical constituency electors of the district is available).

The Provisional Register and Omissions List for functional constituencies are available for public inspection at the REO (10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; and 10/F, Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai); and, five District Offices in Central & Western, Yau Tsim Mong, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.

The public can also use the computer-based enquiry stations at any of the 18 District Offices, or call the Enquiry Hotline (2891 1001) to check if their names are listed in the registers or the Omissions Lists.