An amendment regulation revising arrangements for the 2008 Legislative Council election will be tabled to lawmakers on April 9.

The legislative amendments state that in addition to the candidates, their election and counting agents, polling agents can also stay in the polling station when it is converted into a counting station. Candidates, election agents or counting agents are also allowed to inspect ballot papers which are clearly invalid.

The Electoral Affairs Commission today said the polling and counting arrangement will be adopted for the counting of geographical constituency votes for the 2008 Legco election.

It is expected some of the polling and counting stations will be formed in places like schools which need to be returned to the management of the venue in the early morning following the polling day.

The amendment regulation provides that if it appears to the commission a counting station is no longer available or suitable for the counting, the commission can direct the counting take place at another station.

The Returning Officer must give notice to candidates of the time and place at which counting is to take place or continue to take place.