Chief Executive Donald Tsang today urged voters to cast their ballots in the 2008 Legislative Council election. He noted more and more people, especially young people, are willing to work for Hong Kong's prosperity and social development.

Mr Tsang addressed the media after casting his vote with his wife Selina at Raimondi College this morning.

Have your say: Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Financial Secretary John Tsang and Chief Secretary Henry Tang cast their votes, along with their spouses. They urged other registered voters to head to the polls, also.

He said the coming four years would be particularly trying in the midst of global financial troubles. Hong Kong would need good legislators to come out to work for the people of Hong Kong and the government to ensure a prosperous, stable, calm and harmonious four years.

There are 142 candidates from 53 lists contesting 30 seats in the geographical constituencies, and 45 candidates contesting functional constituency seats.

All 532 polling stations across Hong Kong were open until 10.30pm to more than 3.37 million geographical constituency electors and more than 210,000 electors in the contested functional constituencies to cast their votes.

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam also cast his vote at the Stanley Community Hall this morning. He said the fourth-term Legislative Council would provide an important input in dealing with the constitutional reform proposals for 2012 in setting the electoral methods for returning the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in that year.

He said the new LegCo would reflect the views of the community and of registered voters regarding economic development and livelihood issues.

Chief Secretary Henry Tang said the government is working closely with the Electoral Affairs Commission to ensure the election is fair, open and just.

Other senior officials, such as Financial Secretary John Tsang and Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung, also cast their votes.

Mr Lam visited the polling station at Sau Mau Ping Catholic Primary School in the afternoon.

When asked by the media about the controversial exit polls, he said it is up to individual voters to decide whether they would wish to respond to such polls.

After the polls closed, most polling stations were turned into stations for counting geographical constituency votes. Functional constituency votes are being delivered to the Hongkong International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay for central counting.

By 9:30pm, more than 40% of voters in the geographical constituencies had cast their votes, while almost 53% of voters in the functional constituencies had done so.

People can watch the counting process at designated areas inside the counting stations, or check out the voting rate here.

Call the election hotline on 2891 1001 for enquiries.