More than 3,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong cast their votes on the first day of the month-long overseas voting on Sunday, according to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.
"A total of 3,285 voters cast their vote at the Bayanihan Kennedy Town Centre today on the first day of Overseas Voting in Hong Kong. Of this number, 98% were women," said the office on Sunday.
According to the office, only three ballots were rejected due to unnecessary marks on the ballots and inadvertent damage.
No technical issues were also encountered with the vote counting machines at the voting center.
"Queueing was suspended at noon upon the recommendation of the Hong Kong Police in the interest of public health and safety," it said.
The office previously placed a cap on the number of voters accepted per day at its voting center to ensure that crowd control is implemented and Hong Kong's anti-pandemic measures are observed.
Consul General Raly Tejada, meanwhile, cautioned Filipinos who are voting in Hong Kong, reminding them to follow minimum public health standards.
"Matagumpay man ang unang araw ng eleksyon sa Hong Kong - manatili po tayong maingat sapagkat ang 5th Wave ng pandemya ay naririto pa rin," said Tejada on a Facebook post.
(Despite the success of the first day of elections in Hong Kong – we still need to be careful because the fifth wave of the pandemic is still here.)
"Nanawagan po tayo sa lahat na sumunod sa social distancing at i-respeto ang lahat ng anti-pandemic measures ng Hong Kong, " he added. "Sa inyong pakiki-isa tiwala ako na maluwalhati at matagumpay nating mararating ang huling araw ng botohan sa 09 May 2022. Maraming salamat po!"
(We appeal to everyone to follow social distancing and respect all of the anti-pandemic measures in Hong Kong. With your cooperation, I believe that we will successfully reach the last day of voting on 09 May 2022. Thank you very much!)
According to the consulate general's office, overseas voting will be open every day with no breaks, not even during public holidays for 30 days until May 9.
"We also appeal to all employers to allow their employees to vote during weekdays when crowds are substantially thinner," the Philippine Consulate General said in a statement.
The first day of voting for overseas voters across the world began on April 10 and will remain open until May 9.
