pro-democracy candidates hope that a good result at the local elections sends a message to the Hong kong regime.
pro-democracy forces seem to have a massive backing in Sunday distriktsvalg in Hong kong.
With half of the votes counted, they have so far secured 196 out of a total of 452 seats in Hong kong’s 18 local county councils.
Candidates who are loyal to the chinese regime, have so far 28 seats, while 12 seats going to independent candidates.
It shows the preliminary results from Hong kong’s electoral authorities, writes the South China Morning Post around the clock 22 Danish time.
If the trend is confirmed by the final results, it is a sign that Hong kong’s voters largely are behind the protest movement that has marked the city in the past five months, writes the news agency dpa.
Turnout has been historically high, particularly in the districts, which have been marked by demonstrations. 71,2 percent of Hong kong voters have voted, according to figures from the electoral commission.
It’s about twice as many as at the last elections to the local county councils four years ago. Here voted 1.47 million voters, while the figure on Sunday were up almost 2.9 million an hour before the closing time.
– The high voter turnout reflects Jojobet certainly the Hong kong citizens ‘ hopes of a real direct election, says a voter, the 30-year-old Tsz.
Hong kong has been marked by at times violent demonstrations in the past five months. But in the course of the election day was quiet in the streets.
I hope that this stability and peace not only applies to today’s options, but that also indicates that all of the wish that Hong kong does not drop out in a chaotic situation again, said the Hong kong government, Carrie Lam, when she gave her voice.
She promised that her government will now listen more to the views that come from distriktsrådene.
Usually there is not much focus on distriktsvalget in Hong kong. The former is mainly chosen candidates who support the chinese supported the government in Hong kong.
Distriktsrådene dealing with everyday tasks such as garbage collection and urban planning.
pro-democracy candidates hoping to get a good election result and thus send a clear message to Carrie Lam and her government.
Several voters give expression to the local elections for the first time has got a meaning for them.
– In the last election was that only pro-chinese candidates in our district. This time there was also a democratic candidate. Something has changed, ” says a 26-year-old unnamed chooses to news agency dpa.
/ritzau/Reuters
