Vote result may force rethink by Beijing
The pro-democracy opposition appears to have swept to an resounding victory in Hong Kong elections, as a record turnout dealt a clear rebuke to city leader Carrie Lam and her handling of violent protests that have divided the Chinese territory.
Some votes were still being counted yesterday morning, local time, but Hong Kong media tallied that the pro-democracy camp had easily won a majority in the vote for 452 district council seats.
The result could force the central government in Beijing to rethink how to handle the unrest, which is now in its sixth month. The district councils have little power, but the vote became a referendum on public support for the protests.
The pro-democracy camp hailed its strong gains in the normally low-key race as a ‘‘victory’’ for the Hong Kong people. Candidates said Lam must heed protesters’ demands including free elections for the city’s leader and legislature, and an independent probe into alleged police brutality.
‘‘We won a small battle today but it shows that Hong Kong people have a chance to win the war. We will fight on,’’ said Henry Sin Ho-fai, a prodemocracy candidate who won.
A record 71 per cent of the city’s 4.1 million registered voters cast ballots on Sunday, well exceeding the 47 per cent turnout in the district council elections four years ago. The large number of votes was slowing down the counting.
Hong Kong’s largest proBeijing political party suffered the biggest setback, with at least 155 of its 182 candidates defeated, according to media tallies.
Among the losing incumbents was controversial lawmaker Junius Ho, who was stabbed with a knife while campaigning this month.
The winners included former student leaders and a candidate who replaced prominent activist Joshua Wong, the only person barred from running in the election. Pro-democracy rally organiser Jimmy Sham, who was beaten by hammer-wielding assailants last month, also triumphed, as did a prodemocracy lawmaker who had part of his ear bitten off by an assailant.
The demonstrations have turned increasingly violent and more than 5000 people have been arrested in the unrest that contributed to Hong Kong’s first recession in a decade.
The vote is the only fully democratic one in Hong Kong.