The 2007 Hong Kong Village Representative Elections concluded on Sunday with a total of 632 candidates from 191 villages contesting 324 seats.

"I am pleased that the elections were completed smoothly. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice Pang Kin-kee, and members Lawrence Lok Ying-kam and Professor Chan Chi-fai, for their advice and support," Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho said.

The elections were held at the weekend in the past five weeks. The contested seats included 200 Indigenous Inhabitants Representatives (IIRs) and 124 Resident Representatives (RRs).

The overall turnout rate reached 67.08 percent, of which the respective turnouts for the RR and the IIR Elections were 66.97 percent and 67.18 percent, with 43,220 people casting their votes.

Total turnout for polling on Sunday was 74.53 percent, with 1, 612 of the 2,163 registered voters casting their votes. 22 candidates from 8 villages contested 11 seats, including 6 IIRs and 5 RRs, in respective villages.

Ho also thanked voters for their active participation. He hoped that those elected would work with the Government to foster better development relating to villages.

There were 1,480 seats for the 2007 Village Representative Elections, with 994 seats returned uncontested and 160 seats vacant with no valid nominations.

Source: Xinhua