Hong Kong elections: Record numbers turn out to vote as pro-democracy protesters hope to send message to China

District council elections regarded as bellwether for city’s leader Carrie Lam after six months of often violent protests

Record numbers of people have voted in Hong Kong’s district elections on Sunday with the total surpassing the 2015 turnout by lunchtime.

The election is being viewed as an important barometer of support for the city’s embattled leader Carrie Lam, after six months of pro-democracy protests which have frequently turned violent.

Brutal attacks on election candidates in recent weeks have thrust the government in the Chinese-ruled city into the world spotlight as authorities struggle to quash angry demands for universal suffrage.

Ahead of the election pro-democracy groups urged protesters not to cause any disruption to the elections, and so far order has been maintained.

Government data showed 2.6 million people had voted by 7.30pm, or a rate of 63 per cent, with three hours left until polling stations close, surpassing the 1.5 million who voted in the last district elections four years ago.

The first results are due before midnight.

Beijing-backed Ms Lam cast her ballot in front of television cameras and said her government, widely criticised as out of touch, would listen “more intensively” to the views of district councils.

“I hope this kind of stability and calm is not only for today’s election, but to show that everyone does not want Hong Kong to fall into a chaotic situation again,” she said.

But many are hoping the poll will see pro-democracy candidates make gains.

Ming Lee, 26, who works in event production, said she hoped the higher turnout would benefit the pro-democracy camp battling seats that have hitherto remained uncontested and dominated by pro-Beijing candidates.

“I hope this vote can counter the voice of the pro-establishment, so as to bring in more voices from the democrats,” she told Reuters.

“The social problems encouraged people to vote and to focus on political issues.”

The voter numbers showed people’s determination, said Tsz, 30, who works in the service industry.

“The high turnout rate ... definitely reflects Hong Kong people’s hope for genuine universal suffrage,” he said.

A record 1,104 candidates are vying for 452 seats and a record 4.1 million people have registered to vote for district councillors who control some spending and decide issues such as recycling and public health.

If the pro-democracy campaigners gain control, they could secure six seats in Hong Kong’s parliament, and 117 seats on the 1,200-member panel that selects its chief executive.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam casts her ballot at a polling station in front of TV cameras (AP)

Jimmy Sham, a candidate for the Civil Human Rights Front, which organised some of the mass anti-government rallies of recent months, was beaten by men with hammers in October.

“We can see Hongkongers are longing for a chance to express their stand,” he told Reuters.

“We don’t know yet, at the end of the day, if the democrats can win a majority. But I hope our Hong Kong citizens can vote for the future of Hong Kong.”

The months of protests in Hong Kong have become the city’s worst political crisis in decades, causing the government to temporarily close, disrupting businesses and schools, and police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in response to petrol bombs, rocks and occasionally bows and arrows.

Police teargas protesters at Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Restaurant manager Jeremy Chan said he saw the elections as offering Beijing’s supporters a chance to share their opinions.

“They believe they are fighting for democracy, fighting for Hong Kong, but the rioters only listen to what they want to hear,” he said, citing vandalism of businesses seen as pro-Beijing. “Freedom of speech is lost.”

The protests erupted over a now-withdrawn extradition bill which would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial but rapidly evolved into calls for full democracy, posing the biggest popular challenge to Chinese president Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

Sunday was the seventh day of a stand-off at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, its campus surrounded by police as some protesters hid within the sprawling grounds.

Demonstrators are angry at what they see as Chinese meddling in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. They say they are also responding to perceived police brutality.

China denies interfering and says it is committed to the “one country, two systems” formula for the autonomy of Hong Kong.

Additional reporting by Reuters