09 May 2014- The first day of overseas voters registration in Hong Kong on May 7 generated great interest from the Filipino community in the territory.

The first registrant, Mr. Philip Tubeza, a reporter from the Filipino publication Hong Kong News, was already at the Philippine Consulate General 30 minutes before the opening time.  It was the first time that Mr. Tubeza registered as a voter. 

The day saw a steady stream of Filipino community members who specifically came to register.  According to the applicants, they found out about the registration through the Consulate’s website and Facebook page, as well as announcements from Philippine media partners and telecommunications companies who helped disseminate information.  

The Consulate’s first mobile registration will be conducted on May 11 at Chater Road during the SMART/Sun Cellular’s Mother’s Day event.

Hong Kong garnered a total of 19,733 registrants during the last registration period from November 2011 to October 2012 and 28,260 actual voters during the 2013 senatorial elections, the highest figure worldwide for Philippine Foreign Service Posts with significant numbers of Filipinos.

The registration will run from May 7, 2014 to October 31, 2015 while the overseas voting period for the 2016 Presidential elections is from April 9 to May 9, 2016. END