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Hong Kong's democratic camp retain veto power in poll | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The pan-democratic camp has won 27 of 70 seats to retain veto power in Hong Kong's legislative council in closely-watched elections. | |
But the leader of the biggest pro-democracy party has quit over its poorer than expected performance. | |
Albert Ho stepped down as chairman after his Democratic Party won only four seats, down from eight. | Albert Ho stepped down as chairman after his Democratic Party won only four seats, down from eight. |
Voter turn-out among the 3.5m electorate was over 50%, higher than the previous legislative poll in 2008. | Voter turn-out among the 3.5m electorate was over 50%, higher than the previous legislative poll in 2008. |
The high turn-out followed protests over plans to introduce mandatory patriotism lessons in schools in Hong Kong. A day before the polls, the plans were scrapped. | |
The election campaign was also dominated by issues such as employment, corruption and the growing number of visitors from mainland China. | |
'Increasingly impatient' | |
Results showed pro-democracy groups had retained one-third of the legislative seats, which they need to veto constitutional amendments. | |
However they had been expected to perform better, amid strong anti-China sentiment. | |
For the first time, 40 of the 70 seats on Hong Kong's governing legislative council were directly elected. | For the first time, 40 of the 70 seats on Hong Kong's governing legislative council were directly elected. |
Under the current laws, the rest were chosen by small groups of electors selected along economic and professional lines. | Under the current laws, the rest were chosen by small groups of electors selected along economic and professional lines. |
The pan-democrats were not as well-organised as the pro-Beijing parties; they tried to make Hong Kong's complicated electoral system work in their favour, but often the tactics failed, says the BBC's Andrew Wood in Hong Kong. | The pan-democrats were not as well-organised as the pro-Beijing parties; they tried to make Hong Kong's complicated electoral system work in their favour, but often the tactics failed, says the BBC's Andrew Wood in Hong Kong. |
"We have more votes but less seats. This is a tragic result," Reuters news agency quoted pro-democracy Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong as saying. | "We have more votes but less seats. This is a tragic result," Reuters news agency quoted pro-democracy Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong as saying. |
Albert Ho said he was stepping down to take responsibility for what he called the party's "serious failure" in the election. | |
He also said that people in Hong Kong were becoming "increasingly impatient" with the pro-Beijing government. | |
"I think a lot of voters have decided to choose some people who... play a much more aggressive role in the Legislative Council," he added. |