Hong Kong is going to polls today for the first time since huge pro-democracy protests gripped the city last year. More than 900 candidates are competing for 431 seats in 18 district councils, where pro-China parties currently hold a majority.
The spotlight on district elections is more than ever before to gauge whether support for the democracy movement can translate into votes and bring a fundamental change to Hong Kong’s political landscape. The results, due late today itself, will provide insight into how a Legislative Council election due next year and a controversial leadership poll in 2017 could pan out.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets for more than two months at the end of last year demanding fully free elections for the city’s next leader, in what became known as the Umbrella Movement.