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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday (June 23) that Britain leaving the European Union would be a "very big shock".
In Tokyo, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters that Japan prefers if Britain were to vote in favour of remaining part of the EU.
Polling stations in Britain open at 0600 GMT on Thursday June 23 and close at 2100 GMT with 46.5 million electors eligible to vote.
The official result is due some time after 0600 GMT on Friday (June 24) but partial results and turnout figures from 382 counting centres will be announced from about 0100 GMT.
World leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and NATO and Commonwealth allies have urged Britain to remain in the EU.