Long voter queues as Hong Kong democracy camp seeks poll gains

HONG KONG: Voters turned out in high numbers on Sunday (Nov 24) for Hong Kong's district council elections that the city's protest movement hopes will add pressure on the Beijing-backed government to hear their demands.

Long queues formed at polling stations and the government said turnout in the first two hours was triple the rate seen during the previous district council polls in 2015.

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A record 4.13 million citizens have registered to vote – more than half the population of 7.3 million and an increase of nearly 400,000 – in polls that are the closest that Hong Kongers get to direct representation.

READ: Hong Kong holds local elections amid political tensions

"Facing the extremely challenging situation, I am pleased to say… we have a relatively calm and peaceful environment for (the) election today," Chief Executive Carrie Lam said after voting in her constituency on Hong Kong island.

Some political analysts say high turnout could help the pro-democracy camp, which is calling the polls a referendum on Lam and the pro-Beijing government, who have refused to concede to their movement's demands.

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But the polls are not entirely symbolic: Some candidates for next year's legislative elections will be drawn from district councillors, and the councils also will contribute 117 members to the 1,200-strong Beijing-controlled electoral college that chooses the chief executive.

The poll to choose 452 councillors handling community-level concerns like bus routes and garbage collection has traditionally generated little excitement, but takes on new importance with this year's unrest.

READ: University campus siege nears end as Hong Kong gears up for election

READ: Hong Kong protests slacken ahead of closely watched poll

Hong Kong has been buffeted by months of mass rallies and violent cRead More – Source