The number of people who voted in the first District Councils Election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Sunday totalled 816,503, representing a turnout rate of 35.82 per cent.

The figure surpassed the turnout rate of the previous District Boards Election in 1994 by 2.69 per cent, or 122,955 more people participated in the polls.

As 76 candidates have been elected unopposed earlier, a total of 722 other candidates took part in Sunday's election for 314 seats out of a total of 519 seats in the 18 District Councils.

Of the remaining 129 seats, 102 will be appointees and 27 will be Chairmen of Rural Committee in the New Territories.

"The outcome demonstrates support from the public for the District Councils Election. It also reflects the result of our effort in promoting civic education over the years," a Government spokesman said.

"This is a very welcome sign in the development of our election system. We are very grateful to our voters for that."

The election, which was closely supervised by the independent Electoral Affairs Commission and monitored by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, was conducted smoothly in a fair and open manner.

A District Council advises the SAR Government on matters affecting the well-being of people in the District; the provision and use of public facilities and services within the District; the adequacy and priorities of Government programmes for the District; and the use of public funds allocated to the District for local public works and community activities.

Hong Kong is divided into 390 District Council constituencies, with each District Council member representing about 17,000 people. The term of office for the District Council will last four years between January 2000 and December 2003.

For further information please contact Chief Information Officer, Frank Chuan.

Back to press release