Hong Kong goes to the polls

The people of Hong Kong voted today in elections that could give pro-democracy figures more clout than any time since China reclaimed the territory in July 1997 – following a campaign marred by scandal and alleged intimidation.

Early turnout was brisk, with ordinary citizens projected to give most of their support to opposition politicians branded as troublemakers or even “traitors” by Beijing.

But the pro-democracy camp was expected to fall short of a majority under an election system critics say is rigged.

“I hope Hong Kong can be more democratic,” said Candy Chu, a 48-year-old arts and crafts teacher who marched in two massive protests that shifted the landscape of local politics.

Chu voted today for the opposition and accused the other side of “just speaking for Beijing”.

Polls were to stay open for 15 hours, with final results expected on Monday.

Candidates fanned out in last-minute appeals for votes. Some paraded through restaurants, TV news cameras close behind, to seek support from locals eating lunches of dim sum – small Cantonese delicacies.

Balloting was mostly orderly, though officials reported several dozen cases of candidates allegedly campaigning closer to polling stations than allowed. Three political posters were torn down.

Analysts predicted pro-democracy politicians could claim 25 to 28 of the Legislative Council’s 60 seats – compared with 22 now – which could further weaken the unpopular government of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa by making it harder for Tung to get his bills passed.

Beijing’s authoritarian leadership has clearly been worried about the outcome of Hong Kong’s greatest exercise of democracy since the handover.

Critics charge that China, or its local allies, orchestrated a dirty tricks campaign to hold back the opposition.

Ordinary voters got to directly pick 30 of Hong Kong’s lawmakers, up from 24 last time, but the other 30 were chosen by a relatively small group of special-interest voters, like business leaders, doctors and accountants, who typically back pro-Beijing candidates.

Eleven such seats were filled without competition.

Critics have attacked the system, which gives 3.2 million registered voters the right to choose half of the seats while the other half are picked by less than 200,000 people.