大象传媒

Hong Kong Elections: Pro-democracy supporters come out top

  • Published
  • comments
pro-democracy-supporters-celebrate.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Pro-democracy supporters celebrate in Hong Kong

Record numbers of people have voted in Hong Kong's local elections - with pro-democracy supporters winning the most seats.

Protests have been going on for a while in the region. They started because of something called the extradition bill, but that's now been scrapped.

Now protestors are demonstrating over issues linked to democracy, human rights and their treatment by the police.

Local elections in Hong Kong are not normally seen as being that important, and there is traditionally a low turnout of people voting.

However, as this is the first election since the protests began, people felt very strongly about wanting their voices to be heard.

What were the results?

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Votes were counted in the election

There was a record turn-out, with more than 71% of people who could vote doing so.

The public voted to chose representatives for 452 seats in the city's 18 district councils.

The results showed that 17 out of the 18 district councils and 390 out of 452 seats were won by pro-democracy supporters.

Many voters used this election as a way to show that they are unhappy with the Chinese government, and how the country's leader Carrie Lam has handled the protests.

Many people in Hong Kong are unhappy with the level of influence China has .

What does this mean for Hong Kong?

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam gave a statement on the results.

Carrie Lam has said the government respects the results of the election, and that the government would "listen to the opinions of members of the public humbly and seriously reflect".

The results also mean that pro-democracy supporters might have a impact on the government at an even higher level.

The newly elected councillors can choose 117 of them to sit on the 1,200-member committee which chooses who Hong Kong's chief executive is.

Timeline of protests

Since June 2019 there have been lots of protests. Here are some of the most significant points so far.

3 April: Hong Kong's government introduced plans for changes to legislation that would allow for criminal suspects to potentially be extradited (sent) to China.

9 June: The first big protests took place with an estimated one million people marching to the government headquarters to show that they were against the proposed bill.

15 June: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she would indefinitely delay the extradition bill.

16 June: Despite this, an estimated two million people took to the streets, demanding the bill be withdrawn completely and calling for Ms Lam's resignation.

21 June: Protesters blockaded police headquarters for 15 hours.

1 July: The anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from the UK to China, the Legislative Council (LegCo) building was stormed by protesters.

21 July: Protesters defaced China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

2 August: Even civil servants - supposed to be politically neutral - joined demonstrations in their thousands.

5 August: Yet another city-wide strike was held, bringing services across Hong Kong to a standstill.

11 August: Police stormed enclosed railway stations, firing tear gas at protesters, leading yet again to dramatic scenes of confrontation.

12 August: Protesters gathered at the airport, leading to hundreds of flights being cancelled.

4 September: Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam announced she would withdraw the highly controversial extradition bill which had started the protests.

9 September: Students formed a human chain and sang protest songs.

14 September: Hundreds of protestors took part in a rally outside the British Consulate-General to ask for the UK's help in protecting certain freedoms.

16 September: Police in Hong Kong used tear gas and water cannons against protestors after violence broke out.

1 Oct: The most widespread unrest since the protests began as China's Communist Party rulers celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. An 18-year-old protester is shot in the shoulder.

4 Oct: Face masks are banned, sparking protests. A 14-year-old boy is shot in the thigh.

23 Oct: Extradition bill is formally withdrawn.

11 Nov: Police fire at protesters on the eastern side of Hong Kong island, one person injured.

24 Nov: Elections held in Hong Kong.