Hongkongers came out to vote for their district leaders on Sunday in the fifth district council election since the 1997 handover. The election will also be a barometer of public sentiment as it is the first poll since the 2014 pro-democracy Occupy protests.
See also: HKFP’s District Election Live Blog.
Candidates were seen campaigning throughout the day in the street with some boasting support of former officials and celebrities.
Scuffles broke out in Lok Tsui, Tuen Mun – the most contested constituency with six candidates vying for one seat.
Joshua Wong, convenor of Scholarism, spoke to HKFP outside an elderly care centre in Shek Tong Tsui: “I will mainly be at the places with more elderly care centres – a lot of community groups and student organisations… are monitoring the situation [for] vote rigging,” he said,
His student group, Scholarism, has urged people to “bring elderly people to vote so that they don’t get manipulated.”
Principal government officials including Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam cast their ballot in early morning and urged voters to come out.
More than 955,000 people, or 30.6 percent of all eligible voters, had voted as of 5:30pm.
Although Tuen Mun has some of the most contested constituencies, its voter turnout is one of the lowest, while the Eastern and Southern Districts have the highest turnout rate.
Voting is set to end at 10:30pm on Sunday. Results will be announced on Monday morning.
