HK’s pro-China faction edges poll win

Election results released yesterday gave an edge to the pro-China faction in Hong Kong’s government, where power is split between those aligned with Beijing and those who favour further democratic reforms.

The pro-democratic parties, however, will retain enough of a majority to veto any proposed changes to the former British colony’s constitution.

In Sunday’s election, 40 of the 70 seats on the Hong Kong Legislative Council were decided by voters, and those were split fairly evenly between the two sides.

Pro-democratic candidates won 21 seats — 18 seats in local districts and three more “super seats” open to nearly all voters citywide.

Pro-Beijing rivals won 19 seats — 17 local seats and two super seats.

But another 30 seats on the council were chosen by members of business and special interest groups known as “functional constituencies”, most of which are dominated by pro-Beijing figures.

Beijing has pledged to allow Hong Kong residents to choose their leader by 2017 and all politicians by 2020.

Yet disappointed supporters blamed a splintering of the many parties that comprise the pro-democracy camp for the lack of a strategy against their pro-Beijing rivals.

Albert Ho, chairman of the main Democratic Party, apologised and resigned.

The election drew a strong turnout, with 53% of the territory’s 3.5m registered voters casting ballots.