Smooth counting: Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Justice Woo Kwok-hing (centre) said the time taken to complete the counting of more than 7,000 ballot papers was as expected. To his left is Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam.

Polling for the Election Committee subsector by-elections ended at 10.30pm last night with an overall voter turnout of 14.95%. The counting of ballot papers for the nine contested subsectors took 4 hours 35 minutes to end at 4.05am this morning.

Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Justice Woo Kwok-hing said the time taken to complete the counting of more than 7,000 ballot papers was as expected.

He attributed the smooth process to the swift and efficient handling of questionable ballots, the well-organised delivery of ballot boxes from the 39 polling stations across the territory to the Central Counting Station and rigorous training of counting staff.

The first counting result came out at 2.05am.The count in the Accountancy subsector took slightly longer due to its large electorate of 2,124.

District Councils turnout hits 85.65%

The voter turnout for each subsector was:

*Textile & Garment (12.72%);

*Accountancy (12.14%);

*Architectural, Surveying & Planning (15.8%);

*Chinese Medicine (16.48%);

*Engineering (14.08%);

*Higher Education (14.66%);

*Legal (20.83%);

*Agriculture & Fisheries (84.57%); and

*HK & Kowloon District Councils (85.65%).

On behalf of the Commission, Mr Justice Woo thanked the more than 700 polling and counting staff, and all those government departments involved in the by-elections, in particular the Registration & Electoral Office, for doing their best to serve voters and candidates as well as keep the electoral arrangements as smooth as possible.

He also thanked voters and candidates for their cooperation with working staff and support to the by-elections.

The by-elections were held to fill the 27 vacancies in 16 subsectors of the Election Committee, which will elect a new Chief Executive on July 10. Polls are not required in seven subsectors because candidates were unopposed. Six more vacancies in the Religious subsector have been filled by supplementary nominations.

Final register to be published

The Final Register of the Election Committee will be published in a few days.

Elected candidate(s) for the nine contested subsectors are:

*Textile & Garment: Lam Tai Fai;

*Accountancy: Kenneth Leung and Eric Li;

*Architectural, Surveying & Planning: Cheung Tat Tong

*Chinese Medicine: Feng Jiu;

*Engineering: Lee Ping Kuen and Yim Kin Ping;

*Higher Education: Chan King Ming;

*Legal: Eric Cheung and Paul Shieh;

*Agriculture & Fisheries: Wong Yuen Tai and Cheung Chee Chuen; and,

*HK & Kowloon District Councils: Tsang Heung Kwan, Wong Kwok Keung and Bunny Chan.

Seven candidates elected unopposed

Candidates elected unopposed in the seven uncontested subsectors are:

*Finance: Lo Chung Hing;

*Import & Export: Chan Fung Ping;

*Industrial (First): Kenneth Ting and Chan Chun Tung;

*Industrial (Second): Chan Wing Kee;

*Labour: Yu Kam Keung;

*Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference: Wong Kong Hon and Walter Kwok; and,

*Heung Yee Kuk: Kingsley Sit, Tang Kam Leung, Mok Kam Kwai and Cheung Fo Tai.

Six people returned through supplementary nominations by related religious bodies for the Religious subsector are:

*Harry Ha (Chinese Muslim Cultural & Fraternal Association);

*Thomas Soo (HK Christian Council);

*Tong Wai Ki, Cheung Kam Hung and Lo Wai Kon (HK Taoist Association); and,

*Wu Tai Chow (Confucian Academy).