Hong Kong, pro-democracy candidates triumph in local elections
Rights — di Andrea Barolini
The people of Hong Kong have sent a message to the government and to China: 17 of the 18 district councils will be led by pro-democracy representatives.
Hong Kong, pro-democracy candidates triumph in local elections
The people of Hong Kong have sent a message to the government and to China: 17 of the 18 district councils will be led by pro-democracy representatives.
The local elections held in Hong Kong on Sunday 24 November saw pro-democracy candidates triumph. They sent a clear message in this regard to the government and to China: the population supports the enormous protest movement that has been sweeping the former British colony for months.
In a stunning sign of support for the protests that have roiled Hong Kong this year, more than half of the 452 seats in Sunday’s local district council elections flipped from pro-Beijing to pro-democracy candidates. nyti.ms/2D9Lpfz
China's reaction: Hong Kong remains our territory
The results are still partial, but the crushing victory of the candidates supporting democratic reform is clear. And this across 17 of the 18 district councils, which until now had been governed by figures aligned with the executive. Out of a total of 452 seats, only a few dozen will be filled by representatives who support alignment with China.
While counting was still under way on Monday morning, Beijing's Foreign Minister Wang Yi nonetheless reiterated that "Hong Kong is part of China. Any attempt to destabilise it will fail." For her part, Carrie Lam, the head of the local government, appeared more open, speaking of "respecting the result" and of "listening" to the demands coming from the population.
Hong Kong democrats romp to a landslide and symbolic majority in district council elections after residents turn out in record numbers to vote following six months of anti-government protests in the embattled city reut.rs/2DaUxjW by @joshjonsmith
Record voter turnout at 71%
For Hong Kong's leader, however, this is in some ways a surprise. The often violent nature of the protests had led her to believe that the "silent majority" of voters would support her. The demand for political change instead now appears deep-rooted and widespread.
This was also confirmed by voter turnout, which reached a record high of 71 per cent. This means that 2.94 million people cast their votes, out of a total population of 7.3 million. At the previous poll, four years earlier, only 1.4 million voters had gone to the polls.
Pro-democracy candidates grab 388 seats in Hong Kong's district council elections, a stunning net gain of 263, according to local media, with the establishment holding on to 59 and five going to independents @AFPgraphics
The leaders of the protest movement commented on the results, explaining that "Lam must now respond to the people's demands and give young people a chance." There are in particular five demands being put forward, among which the opening of an inquiry into the violence perpetrated by police against protesters stands out. This culminated in the firing of live rounds by law enforcement, which led to the death of a 22-year-old student, Chow Tsz-lok.