Cross-border voting push: authorities urged to set up electoral roll of mainland-based Hongkongers

A concern group has called for Hong Kong authorities to set up an electoral roll of local residents living in mainland China to pave the way for allowing them to vote from outside the city.

The “Concern Group for Voting Convenience of Hong Kong People on the Mainland”, made up of lawmakers and Election Committee members, put forward their proposal ahead of the policy address next month. They added the measures could be done in stages.

Hong Kong had previously set up polling stations near the border to facilitate voting for its residents living on the mainland. But the government stopped short of putting stations across the border, saying a “thorough discussion” was needed.

The group, consisting of 13 Election Committee members and 14 lawmakers, said mainland-based residents should be allowed to vote given the city also encouraged people to integrate with the nation.

A designated registry for voters living across the border should be set up first, it suggested.