Hong Kong holds first vote since number of directly-elected lawmakers cut

Low turnout is widely expected and, three hours after voting began, some 416,061 registered voters, or 9.35%, had cast their ballots

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam poses as she casts her ballot. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP/PA

Hong Kong is voting in the first legislative council election since Beijing amended the laws to reduce the number of directly-elected lawmakers and vet candidates to ensure that only those loyal to China can run.

The semi-autonomous territory was rocked by pro-democracy protests in 2014 and 2019 but they were crushed by security forces, followed by the imposition of a sweeping national security law that silenced most of the city’s opposition activists and led others to flee abroad.