Pro-Beijing supporters have been accused of offering financial incentives to potential supporters and bringing in busloads of former Hong Kong residents living in China to vote in the election.
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The primary results indicated that the pro-democracy opposition would retain its one-third veto bloc in the 70-member assembly. Last month, officials disqualified six pro-independence candidates in an attempt to tamp down the debate, though other candidates with similar views made the cut.
Those elected include 23-year-old Nathan Law who was one of the leaders of the 2014 so-called umbrella movement protests.
The most high-profile was the disappearance of five city booksellers known for salacious titles about Beijing politicians.
“We still have to unite in order to have stronger power to fight the Chinese Communist Party”, Law told Reuters.
More than 2.2 million people voted, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission, with a turnout of 58 per cent – up from 53 per cent in 2012. They are becoming increasingly anxious that Beijing is moving to erode the territory’s civil liberties, which are enshrined under the 1997 handover agreement that ensured Hong Kong’s autonomy for at least 50 years.
It is not yet clear what may happen if they go on to advocate independence as an option for Hong Kong in the legislature.
With the pro-democracy camp divided between those who back the idea of possible independence and those who are more wary of the once taboo notion, Law said he would seek unity. “Black mask” protesters have been described as “radical localists” by the South China Morning Post.
The government barred several candidates calling for Hong Kong’s complete independence from China from running in the election. “Ideologically they’re talking about independence and they want to assert themselves”.
They were part of a broader wave of radical activists who campaigned for Hong Kong’s complete autonomy or even independence from China, highlighting fears that Beijing is eroding the city’s high autonomy, as well as frustration over the failure of the 2014 protests to win genuine elections for Hong Kong’s top leader.
An hour before polls were scheduled to close at 1030pm local time (14:30 GMT) on Sunday, around two million people, or some 52.57 percent of registered voters, had cast their ballots, according to government data. They see no way for Hong Kong to maintain its civil liberties under the current arrangement.
Tthe Legislative Council is a 70-seat governing body that is in charge of passing (and rejecting) laws and approving the government budget.
Pro-democracy parties are tipped to win the Hong Kong elections following a record voter turnout.
It is nearly impossible for them to take a majority as 30 seats are appointed by special interest groups that tend to be pro-Beijing.
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Lawmakers will take up their seats on October 1 and will have to swear an oath to uphold the constitution, which describes Hong Kong as part of China. “I want to do something to help”, said 28-year-old Maicy Leung, who was in a snaking queue of several hundred people.
