Hong Kong establishment crushed at polls in stark message to Beijing
- 25 Nov 2019
Hong Kong's deeply unpopular leader vowed Monday to "listen humbly" to voters after the pro-democracy camp scored a crushing victory in community-level elections that revealed broad public support for a protest movement that has sparked months of violence.
Hong Kong protests simmer ahead of local elections
High turnout in Hong Kong vote seen in test of support for China-backed Carrie Lam
In a rout that stunned the semi-autonomous territory, candidates seeking to loosen control by China seized an overwhelming majority of the 452 seats in the city's 18 district councils, bodies that have historically been firmly in the grip of a Beijing-aligned establishment.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Hong Kong is a part of China no matter what happens in the semiautonomous territory.
Election winner candidate Kelvin Lam (right), and pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (second right), wave to people and thank for their support, outside South Horizons Station in Hong Kong on Monday. Vincent Yu/AP
Wang spoke Monday to reporters in Tokyo. He made the remarks in response to a question about Hong Kong’s district council elections in which the pro-democracy opposition appears to have swept to a resounding victory.
Wang said: "No matter what kind of things happen in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is a part of Chinese territory.”
Options fade for last Hong Kong campus protesters as US bill angers China
Protesters stay holed up on Hong Kong campus surrounded by riot police
He added: "Any attempts to destroy Hong Kong or harm Hong Kong’s stability and development cannot possibly succeed.”
Six months of protests have rocked the former British colony.
The result was a humiliating rebuke to Beijing and Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who has dismissed calls for political reform and had repeatedly suggested that a silent majority supported her administration and opposed the protest movement.
Starry Lee (centre) chairperson of pro-Beijing party Democratic Alliance attends a press conference in Hong Kong. AP
"The government will certainly listen humbly to citizens' opinions and reflect on them seriously," Lam said in a statement issued by the government.
She gave no specifics on her next move, but opponents quickly called on her to accede to a five-point list of demands, including direct elections for the city's legislature and leadership and a probe into alleged police brutality against demonstrators.
An official opens a ballot box at a polling station in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
"The voters used the most peaceful way to tell the government that we won't accept Hong Kong becoming a police state, and an authoritarian regime," said Wu Chi-wai, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Hong Kong's largest anti-establishment party.
"The government must squarely face... public opinion."
The Labour Party, another leading component of the pro-democracy bloc, attributed the election result to "the sweat, blood and tears" of protesters.
Supporters of local candidate Kelvin Lam celebrate at a polling station in Hong Kong. Thomas Peter/Reuters
Chatter on a popular web forum used previously to urge people to turn out for protests called for a march on Sunday to press the government to respond to the movement's demands.
'Revolution'
Millions took to the streets earlier this year after Lam's government introduced a bill to allow extraditions to China's opaque judicial system.
It was eventually withdrawn, but the resulting public anger unleashed broader demands and led to violent clashes between police and protesters.
District councils handle mundane community-level issues like garbage collection and the polls typically generate little excitement. But Sunday's contest took on new political significance because of the protests.
Pro-democracy supporters celebrate after pro-Beijing politician Junius Ho lost his election. Kin Cheung/AP
The outcome was "nothing short of a revolution", Hong Kong political analyst Willy Lam said.
"It's a sound repudiation of the (Hong Kong) administration and Beijing's policy toward Hong Kong."
He said the result could hasten Beijing's expected removal of Lam as leader, but may also extend the city's crisis.
"Protesters will see this astounding victory as a mandate given by the people, so they will fight harder. But at the same time, there won't be any concessions from Beijing, so the frustration will mount," he told AFP.
Pro-democracy candidates grabbed 388 seats — a stunning net gain of 263 — according to local media, with the establishment holding on to only 59. Five went to independents.
Hong Kong's unpopular leader Carrie Lam said on Monday her government would "listen humbly" to the public after voters dealt a humiliating election setback to the Beijing-backed establishment she heads.
Wu Chi Wai (right) chairperson of the Democratic Party arrives for a press conference in Hong Kong. Vincent Yu/AP
"The government will certainly listen humbly to citizens' opinions and reflect on them seriously," she said in a statement issued by the government.
Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp scored a crushing victory in community-level elections held on Sunday, a result that made clear the level of public support for the demands of a protest movement that has thrown the territory into turmoil.
In a rout that stunned the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, candidates favouring greater democracy seized an overwhelming majority of the 452 seats in the city's 18 district councils.
The councils have historically been firmly in the grip of the Beijing-aligned establishment.
The protest movement has several key demands including direct popular elections and a probe into alleged police brutality, and the result may bring new pressure on Lam to meet them.
She has previously rejected the demands as "wishful thinking" and repeatedly suggested the ballot would show most Hong Kongers supported her administration and an end to the protests.
