Hong Kong local elections: Democrats in Hong Kong triumph

With a record participation in the district elections and strong gains for Democratic candidates, Hong Kong's people have backed the protest movement. As the electoral commission announced in the night of Monday (local time), the turnout was 71.2 percent. 2.94 million of the 4.1 million eligible Hong Kongers cast their votes - more than ever before.

The counting started right after the polls closed. As the Hong Kong newspaper "South China Morning Post" reported, around 5 pm (local time) about 201 of the 452 district council posts went to Democratic candidates Monday morning. That's almost half of the vote. The pro-Beijing camp, which had won about three-quarters of the seats in the last elections, initially accounted for only 28 posts. 12 seats went to independent candidates. 211 seats in the 18 district councils of the city had not been counted.

Observers had seen in the poll a referendum on whether the silent majority, after almost six months of ongoing protests, is still behind the anti-government movement. If it remains with the strong result for the Democrats, that would also be a slap for Prime Minister Carrie Lam.

Symbolic meaning of choice

Nevertheless, the elections are primarily of symbolic significance, as the county councils of the city do not really have political power. You can not pass laws or make meaningful decisions yourself. As committees, they advise the government and make suggestions on how to improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods. The dominant camp in the election receives seats in the 1200-member election committee, which elects the Hong Kong head of government every five years. However, the panel ensures that in the end Beijing's favored candidate always wins.

More than 1,000 candidates entered these local elections. In Hong Kong, there have been increasingly violent clashes between police and radical protesters over the past two weeks. On the three days before the election, however, it remained quiet in the metropolis.

Since its return to China in 1997, the former British Crown Colony has been governed autonomously under Chinese sovereignty under the principle of "one country, two systems". The seven million Hong Kong people - unlike the people of the People's Republic - enjoy many rights, such as freedom of assembly and expression, which they now fear.