Hong Kong poll problems attacked by candidates

THE pro-democratic opposition in Hong Kong yesterday hit out at problems with the voting and the count after falling short of expectations in elections.

Pro-democracy candidates scored three new seats in Hong Kong’s parliament, winning 25 of the former British territory’s 60 seats, according to final, official results.

Beijing’s authoritarian leadership was worried about the outcome of Hong Kong’s greatest-yet exercise of democracy, seven years after Britain returned the former colony to the motherland.

Yesterday’s contest was plunged into controversy even before the results were tallied. Polling stations ran short of ballot boxes, prompting some angry people to give up rather than wait to cast their vote.

Constitutional affairs secretary Stephen Lam apologised and promised an immediate investigation.

A record 1.78 million people cast ballots and the 55% turnout was also a record. Half of the 60 legislative seats were directly elected, with 3.2 million people registered to vote.

The other half were picked by fewer than 200,000 members of special interest groups such as business, law and accounting.

The pro-democracy side won 18 of the 30 directly-elected seats, but just seven of the 30 special interest seats.