Hong Kong holds first council elections since ‘pro-patriots’ overhaul

Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee casts his ballot at a polling station during the district council elections in Hong Kong on Sunday (Louise Delmotte/AP)

Residents went to the polls on Sunday in Hong Kong’s first district council elections since an electoral overhaul was implemented under Beijing’s guidance of “patriots” administering the city, effectively shutting out all pro-democracy candidates.

Turnout is expected to be much lower than in the last elections, held at the height of the 2019 anti-government protests. Some pro-democracy voters, dismayed by the drastic rule changes, including the elimination of most directly elected seats, are turning their backs on the polls.