BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th November, 2019) Representatives of opposition pro-democracy forces have gained an absolute majority in the District Council elections in Hong Kong, media reported on Monday, citing preliminary results of the vote counting.
Sunday's District Council elections in Hong Kong are considered to be a test of support for both the local pro-establishment authorities and the so-called pro-democracy lawmakers after six months of protests. On the eve of the vote, instead of arranging new weekend protests, activists urged their supporters to go to the polls and vote for pro-democracy candidates.
According to the RTHK broadcaster, opposition candidates won around 390 of the 452 District Council seats.
Members of the district councils deal with such issues as transport and utilities on the level of neighborhoods. The elections had a record voter turnout of 2.94 million voters, representing 71.2 percent of registered voters, compared to the figure of 47 percent during previous election in 2015. All councils had been under pro-establishment control since the 2015 elections.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) respected the results of the vote and pledged to listen to the opinion of the public.
"The HKSAR Government respects the election results. There are various analyses and interpretations in the community in relation to the results, and quite a few are of the view that the results reflect people's dissatisfaction with the current situation and the deep-seated problems in society. The HKSAR Government will listen to the opinions of members of the public humbly and seriously reflect," she said in a statement.
Hong Kong has been facing a wave of rallies against the now-withdrawn extradition bill since June. The protests eventually escalated into violent confrontations between demonstrators and the police. Beijing views the situation in Hong Kong is a direct result of foreign interference in China's domestic affairs and expresses full support for the local authorities' actions.
