Voters delivered a strong message of support for the city’s democracy movement, turning out in record numbers to defeat pro-government candidates in hundreds of local races.
The results put further pressure on Hong Kong’s government to offer more political solutions to address deep-seated discontent among protesters in the semi-autonomous city, who have for weeks resorted to increasingly violent tactics in the absence of concrete government measures to meet their demands.
The election for 452 district council seats was widely seen as a referendum on public attitudes after nearly six months of social unrest. Antigovernment sentiment on the streets translated to the ballot box, as a record 2.9 million voters made their choices—more than 70% of those eligible. The election proceeded without unrest on Sunday.
As of 6:49 a.m. on Monday in Hong Kong, pro-democracy candidates had won 201 seats, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported, compared with only about a quarter of the seats in 2015. Pro-establishment candidates had 28, with dozens of candidates from the city’s biggest pro-China party defeated and some key pro-establishment candidates unseated. The results for 211 seats were still undeclared.
While district councilors typically only handle neighborhood matters and lack legislative power, they hold close to 10% of the seats on the 1,200-member election committee that chooses Hong Kong’s chief executive, its highest office. District councilors also have six seats on the city’s 70-strong legislature, which is only partially elected.