end game for HK protests...

[Hypocrite-The]

In Hong Kong, violence is the new normal for protesters and police - Analysis & Opinion
Opinion By Adam NiUpdated earlier today at 11:19am

PHOTO A protester is detained by riot police at Hong Kong's PolyU on Monday. REUTERS: THOMAS PETER
Hong Kong's descent into senseless violence is painful to watch.
The dramatic escalation of force since June, between anti-government protesters and police, has seen the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and molotov cocktails becoming unnervingly common.
This violence is now a normalised part of the life of the city and the threshold for the use of such force has become ever lower.
This has been especially grievous in the past week.
Hong Kong's university campuses have become virtual warzones.
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For two days, police have laid siege to student protesters holding out at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).
Across the city, protesters and police are confronting each other in a never-ending game of cat and mouse.
Such violence, in a city that once was known for its safety highlights just how brittle that veneer of civilisation can be.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

Video 1:17
Violent scenes outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
ABC NewsIs the protest movement united?
A popular slogan of the movement translates to something like "climbing a mountain together, make your own effort".
The slogan expresses the idea that the protesters have a common goal, despite the divergence in tactics.
The initial fuse that set off the protest movement — a controversial extradition bill — is no longer the central focus.
Instead, Hong Kongers are now decrying police violence and the unresponsiveness of the Hong Kong government to their demands, including for an independent investigation into the police response to the protests and the implementation of full universal suffrage.

PHOTO The colour yellow was a symbol for pro-democracy protesters, known as the Umbrella Movement. AP: KIN CHEUNG
The violence is asymmetric. It pits well-armed riot police against protesters armed with umbrellas and molotov cocktails.
The systemic violence of the police is incomparable to the protesters' violence, which tends to be leaderless and at times senseless.
But palpably, it is the violence of the weak against the strong. It embodies a sense of hopelessness in the face of overwhelming state power.
Does violent protest help or hinder?
Regardless of what we think of the justification of violence among the protesters, violent actions are not enough.
Over the long term, it will reduce public support for the protest movement as violence brings the city to a halt again and again.

PHOTO Protests have brought the city to a halt again and again. AP: VINCENT YU
Also, it will give justification for police to raise their level of violence, in a race that protesters cannot hope to win.
This is well-known, of course. But more radical protesters are increasing turning to violent tactics out of a sense of futility, hopelessness and desperation.
Who is to blame?
From the Hong Kongers' perspective, who is to blame for this escalating violence?
The latest survey by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute indicates that an overwhelming majority of people lay the blame with the Hong Kong government led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam (84 per cent).
Almost as many (74 per cent) blame the police.

PHOTO Hong Kong's well armed riot police are facing off against demonstrators. REUTERS: TYRONE SIU
Less than half of people (41 per cent) blame the protesters for the violence.
Another earlier survey noted strong solidarity between the moderate and militant wings of the protest movement.
In that survey, more than 80 per cent of the respondents agreed that to maximise the impact of protests both peaceful and confrontational actions needed to be carried out hand-in-hand.
It appears that the protesters have learnt an important lesson from the Umbrella Movement of 2014: they can stick together in their cause, or they can hang separately.
What is the alternative?
One alternative for the protesters is to redirect their anger away from violent confrontations to peaceful means of civil resistance.
Over the long term, this would be more effective.
A democratic revolution does not happen overnight — it can take years and even decades of consistent effort.
While peaceful resistance is more likely to succeed in the long term, the protesters do not feel that time is on their side as Beijing increasingly encroaches on Hong Kong's political system and way of life.
There are no signs that de-escalation is on the cards given the hardening of positions on both sides.
The protesters are increasingly desperate and turning to more violent tactics. Authorities are hunkering down, and doubling down on their hardline tactics that emphasise the use of force designed to batter detractors into submission.
With Beijing's preference for a hardline approach to the protesters, the likelihood of compromise is exceedingly low.
Fundamentally, at the heart of the current unfolding crisis are two different visions for the city.
On the one hand, Beijing wants to tighten its control of Hong Kong and integrate it into China's repressive political system.
Hong Kongers, on the other hand, are desperately resisting this effort.
But against China's overwhelming power, the prospects for the protesters — no matter whether they use peaceful or violent actions — are grim. But they are likely to fight on.
Adam Ni is a China researcher with the Department of Security Studies and Criminology at Macquarie University.
Posted earlier today at 2:00am

 

[congo9]

Thanos comes in?

 

[zhihau]

The end game will be like this
1) Carrie Lam will resign.

Disruption of the elections on Sunday wouldn’t be enough to result in this outcome

 

[Sideswipe]

it is an attrition battle. for the protests to develop so huge is amazing, considering who are the leaders are still unclear.

 

[Insider Player]

it is an attrition battle. for the protests to develop so huge is amazing, considering who are the leaders are still unclear.

Maybe that represents the majority and hongkies are really pissed.

 

[zhihau]

Maybe that represents the majority and hongkies are really pissed.

君已失民心，小心賠了夫人又折兵。

 

[Hypocrite-The]

No wonder the protest failed. Kenna infiltrated by the chicoms.

Chinese spy Wang Liqiang alleges Beijing ordered overseas murders, including in Australia
Updated about 2 hours ago

PHOTO Wang Liqiang has warned against "underestimating our organisation". SUPPLIED: 60 MINUTES AUSTRALIA
A man claiming to have worked as a secret Chinese operative for five years says Beijing has directed overseas assassinations, including on Australian soil.
Government sources have confirmed to the ABC Wang "William" Liqiang has detailed the sensational allegations as he seeks political asylum.
Nine Newspapers have reported Mr Wang is in hiding in Sydney after recently providing a sworn statement to Australia's domestic spy agency ASIO outlining Beijing's covert operations.
One senior official, speaking to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, said the challenge for security agencies was to now "separate fact from fiction" while assessing Mr Wang's disclosures.

PHOTO The Treasurer said the Government is following up on the "sensitive matter". ABC NEWS: TAMARA PENNIKET
In the statement Mr Wang provided ASIO last month, he reportedly states: "I have been personally involved and participated in a series of espionage activities".
He is also reported to have said spies from Beijing were infiltrating Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, influencing Taiwan's elections and "operating with impunity in Australia", according to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was a "sensitive matter" being followed up by the relevant authorities.
"These are very disturbing reports and the matter is now in the hands of the appropriate law enforcement agencies so I wouldn't comment on the particulars of individual cases," he said.
"The Government makes no apologies for the measures we have taken to ensure that we have foreign interference laws in place."
According to the reports, Mr Wang is seeking political asylum and remains in an undisclosed location in Sydney on a tourist visa.
Mr Wang told Nine Newspapers the Chinese Communist Party "infiltrates all countries in areas such as military, business and culture, in order to achieve its goal".
He continued: "You shouldn't underestimate our organisation … we were cultivated and trained by the organisation for many years before taking up important positions.
"[The Chinese Communist Party] wants to ensure no-one threatens its authority."
In a clip from 60 Minutes posted to social media on Saturday, Mr Wang said, through a translator, that he was "responsible for organising the cyber army to attack people online".

"Imagine the consequence of betraying the organisation."

When asked why he had decided to seek political asylum in Australia and detail his involvement in such covert operations, he said: "I know very well that the Chinese Communist Party can never be trusted. Once I go back, I will be dead."

PHOTO Mr Wang reportedly said Xi Jinping's Chinese Community Party "can never be trusted". XINHUA/JU PENG: AP
When asked about reports Mr Wang is currently in Sydney and seeking asylum, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said: "These reports are of real concern."
He called for "Australia's national sovereignty [to be] protected," adding, "we will await processes with the Government and one of the things that we will be seeking next week is a briefing from the appropriate authorities on these issues".
The Labor leader said the question of whether the country should accept Mr Wang's reported asylum request would be "a decision for the Government".

"But, I'm sympathetic with the circumstances and we know that he has outlined a range of activities which clearly put him in a circumstance whereby it's a legitimate claim for asylum," Mr Albanese added.

Responding to the news of Mr Wang's reported asylum claim on Twitter, former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin said Mr Wang would not be safe in Australia.
"He'd better move to America later. He is not safe in Australia. Since he revealed names and IDs of operatives and kidnappings, he may be executed," he wrote.
"Extremely difficult to hide the whole family from a powerful surveillance state like China in [a] modern high-tech world.
"China collects all data of WeChat users, listens to Apple [mobile phones] and hacks PCs, besides [there are] over 1,000 operatives on the payroll," he added.
Posted about 5 hours ago

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Hong Kong's district council elections could send powerful message to China
By North Asia correspondent Jake Sturmer in Hong KongUpdated about 9 hours ago

VIDEO 0:50 Hong Kong district councillors election expected to send a message to China ABC NEWS
From messy roads, to noisy neighbours — Hong Kong's district councillors have to deal with the most local issues you can imagine.
But on Sunday the results of the election of these largely powerless officials will send a powerful message that could reshape the protest movement or draw the ire of an increasingly impatient China.
A record 4.1 million Hongkongers have registered to vote in what will be the biggest test of public support for the protest movement.
Will electors use these elections to send a political statement in support of pro-democracy candidates and against the Government? Or will they back the better resourced pro-establishment, pro-Beijing teams that hold a majority of seats?

PHOTO Calvin Sze To says his campaign has cost him long-term friendships.
While the prevailing thinking is that most young people support the protesters and the pan-democratic camp, 29-year-old Calvin Sze To's electoral candidacy is challenging that.
He's running as a candidate for the conservative, Beijing-aligned Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB).
It's cost him decade-long friendships and the support of some of his own family.
Even his own girlfriend doesn't support his party.
"It's a really hard moment right now but I hope that when everything's finished, when all the elections finish, all the violence finishes, all the protests finish, I hope everything will get back to normal," he said.

PHOTO The situation in Hong Kong has gotten worse in the last two weeks, with some thinking that will sway votes. AP: VINCENT YU
He believes many young protesters do not understand the history of Hong Kong.
"A lot of people maybe do not understand what China is about because Hong Kong was a place under British rule before 1997," he said.

"They just only know a place that is Hong Kong, but they do not know what is a country.

"We are a part of China."
The journalism and communications graduate fears there may be violence surrounding the vote.
"I am worried we don't have a fair election this time," he said.
"Some of the people said they're worried how to vote, that they are afraid."
Councillors do hold some sway in Hong Kong
While the individual councillors may deal with hyper-local issues, they do have some say in Hong Kong.
Whichever camp wins the most seats gets 117 seats on the committee of 1,200 that selects the city's Chief Executive.
According to Ivan Choy, a senior lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the public expectation is that pro-democratic parties will do well because of the unpopularity of the Government.
However, as protests have become more violent and disruption to the daily life of Hongkongers grows, that result is not quite a foregone conclusion.
"If the elections were conducted in late June or early July, it would be beyond any doubt a landslide victory for the democrats, just because at that time the movement was still peaceful and people were quite sympathetic with the movement," Mr Choy said.
"In the last two weeks, the situation has become worse and worse and I think some middle voters, they may have second thoughts.
"What are they looking for? Looking for improving their daily lives or showing support for protesters?"
Elections to go ahead despite fears of violence
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Video 0:52
Hong Kong protesters shot arrows and hurled petrol bombs at police from a barricaded university
ABC News
The violent clashes — which have included the stabbing of a pro-Beijing politician, a siege at Polytechnic University, the release of footage showing police stomping on the head of a protester and another clip of activists setting a man on fire — have all triggered speculation as to whether the elections would even be allowed to go ahead.
The Hong Kong Government has stepped up security — but it's not clear how protesters will respond.
The last few days have been quiet.
But Mr Choy said he had seen protesters in the leaderless movement discussing their options.
"Some people will say that 'OK, we should let the election be conducted so we can send a strong message to the international political community'," he said.
"But others try to say that 'OK, we are not looking for this, we are looking for more radical means to impose pressure on the Government' — [saying] 'elections are not our cup of tea'."
Twenty-five-year-old entrepreneur Michael Pang is running for the pan-democratic camp in the upmarket Stanley and Shek O district.

PHOTO Graffiti on pan-democratic candidate Michael Pang's signs. ABC NEWS: JAKE STURMER
Despite receiving some graffiti on some of his signs, he believed that would not significantly affect the vote.
"There must be some kind of negative impact, but I still have confidence in the Hong Kong people," he said.
"They would know that the situation is not the cause of the problem, it's just a reaction to the issues raised by the Government."
Despite being young, he believes everyone has a role to play.
"I think elections are one of the ways I can voice my opinions and try to contribute to my home town," he said.

"The middle voter still hasn't made up their mind. We have to work harder, try to convince them [to] come out and vote.

"Every vote counts."
Despite the chance of seeing many pro-Beijing candidates lose out, Mr Choy believes the mainland does want these elections to go ahead.
"They know that if they try to suspend the elections there would be a strong negative message to the international community and they want to avoid that," he said.
"On one hand if the democrats get a landslide victory you can say that public opinion is on the side of the democrats and you need to make some political solutions.
"But on the other hand [China] may form the conclusion that they should use more harsh methods to solve the existing protest situation."

PHOTO Cheung Ka Yan, a 26-year-old accountant, is a pro-government candidate with the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. AP: NG HAN GUAN
Follow this story to get email or text alerts from ABC News when there is a future article following this storyline.

 

[zhihau]

Will the protestors disrupt the polling process? Hmm...

 

[AhMeng]

Will the protestors disrupt the polling process? Hmm...

I hope they do. The more mess in Cuntonese land, the better for non Cuntonese.

 

[jw5]

This is one reason I am a fan of Trump.

From Yahoo News

Trump: Hong Kong would be 'obliterated in 14 minutes' if not for me

US President Donald Trump said Friday he had saved Hong Kong from being destroyed by persuading Chinese President Xi Jinping to hold off on sending in troops to crush its pro-democracy movement.

"If it weren't for me, Hong Kong would have been obliterated in 14 minutes," Trump said in a scattershot early morning interview with Fox News.

Trump's comments come as he mulls signing congressionally-approved legislation in support of the pro-democracy activists -- or bow to Beijing's threats of retaliation if the law is enacted.

Asked whether he would veto the legislation, green-lit by an overwhelming margin in Congress on Wednesday, Trump equivocated.

"I'll tell you we have to stand with Hong Kong but I'm also standing with President Xi. He is a friend of mine he is an incredible guy," Trump said.

"I would like to see them work it out. We have to see them work it out," he added.

Trump cast his relationship with Xi as the bulwark keeping China from moving against the pro-democracy movement that has rocked Hong Kong during almost six months of increasingly violent protests.

He added that a "million soldiers standing outside of Hong Kong are not going only because I asked him: 'Please don't do that. You will be making a big mistake. It will have a tremendous negative impact on the trade deal.'"

Trump acknowledged that the tension over the former British colony -- handed back to China in 1997 -- has complicated efforts to strike a trade deal with Beijing, a top Trump priority and source of economic uncertainty as Washington heads into an election year.
US and Chinese trade negotiators are "potentially very close" to a deal, he said.

- 'Fight back' -

Earlier in Beijing, Xi met a group of former US officials and other foreign dignitaries, including Richard Nixon's Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, ex-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Trump's erstwhile economic advisor Gary Cohn.

"As we always said we don't want to start the trade war but we are not afraid," Xi said. "When necessary we will fight back but we have been working actively to try not to have a trade war."

The Hong Kong bill awaiting Trump's signature supports human rights and democracy in the city, while threatening to revoke its special economic status.

A separate measure bans the sale of tear gas, rubber bullets and other equipment used by the security forces to suppress pro-democracy protests.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi denounced the bill as "naked interference" in China's internal affairs, and vowed retaliatory measures.

The law's overwhelming passage, first by a unanimous vote in the Senate followed by a 417-1 vote in House of Representatives on Wednesday, underscored the rare bipartisan support for the measure in the US Congress.

 

[tanwahtiu]

These shitskins has nothing to lose to support HK but humilate China.

100 years of humilating China is not enough.... and they want more... wait till Russia will humilate US and end game of US is coming...

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Hong Kong holds local elections amid political tensions
Protest forums have urged citizens to vote and to pause acts of disruption in case the government pushes back the polls AFP/Nicolas ASFOURI
24 Nov 2019 05:44AM
(Updated: 24 Nov 2019 08:10AM)
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HONG KONG: Voting at district council elections in Hong Kong began peacefully on Sunday (Nov 24) morning, with no signs of a major police presence at polling booths monitored by Reuters despite nearly six months of sometimes violent unrest in the city.
Brutal attacks on candidates have thrust Hong Kong's lowest-tier government onto the international stage, with the district elections seen as an important barometer of support for leader Carrie Lam's embattled administration.
The South China Morning Post on Friday, citing a senior police source, said riot police for the first time would guard all polling stations and almost all officers in the 31,000 strong force would be on duty.
READ: Hong Kong protests slacken ahead of closely watched poll
The city's anti-government movement hopes the ballot will send a message to the Beijing-backed government.
The run-up to Sunday's polls has seen a muting of major rallies and violent clashes between police and protesters, respite for a city battered by nearly six months of unprecedented political unrest.
Protest forums have urged citizens to vote and to pause acts of disruption in case the government pushes back the polls, which open on Sunday morning for 4.1 million registered voters.
Posts by anti-government users on the popular online board LiHKG urged supporters "not to jeopardise the election".
The district council polls normally stir little excitement, dominated by candidates allied to the China-backed government with a remit over everyday tasks such as rubbish collections and planning decisions.
But with protests roughing up the city, anti-government candidates are hoping to make a statement to Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the pro-Beijing government, which have refused to concede to the movement's demands.
The poll to choose 452 councillors across 18 districts is the closest voters in Hong Kong get to direct representation - but turnout is usually unremarkable.
Nearly 400,000 new voters have registered, however, which is widely interpreted as a positive sign for the pro-democracy camp.
The district council polls normally stir little excitement but with protests roughing up the city, pro-democracy candidates are hoping to make a statement AFP/Nicolas ASFOURI
Police will be deployed at polling stations and on the city streets on Sunday to prevent any disruption.
"If you create massive chaos or carry out unlawful deeds it will be difficult to hold a fair election," government Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said Saturday.
"It's a real democratic exercise. I really want people to treasure it."
Hong Kong's political unrest started in June in opposition to an extradition bill to China.
Although the bill was eventually withdrawn, the movement snowballed into wider calls for democracy and investigations into alleged police brutality.
The district polls remain the city's freest. In contrast, members of the city's legislature are elected by a mix of the popular vote and industry groups stacked with Beijing loyalists.
The city's chief executive is chosen by a similarly pro-establishment committee.
Analysts expect pro-democracy candidates to make gains in the district councils, but to still fall well short of a majority of the 452 slots.
In a bid to get out their vote, pro-democracy groups have made "HOW TO CAST A VOTE" airdrops.
The messages urge young voters to turn up early, bring their ID and "avoid wearing black shirts and masks" - the unofficial uniform of the protesters - or accidentally spoiling ballots.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Hong Kong democrats score landslide victory in local elections amid political crisis
Pro-democracy supporters celebrate after pro-Beijing candidate Junius Ho lost a seat in the district council elections in Tuen Mun district of Hong Kong, early on Nov 25, 2019. (Photo: AFP / PHILIP FONG)
25 Nov 2019 06:42AM
(Updated: 25 Nov 2019 06:50AM)
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HONG KONG: Pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong romped to a landslide and symbolic majority in district council elections after residents turned out in record numbers on Sunday (Nov 24) to vote following six months of anti-government protests in the embattled city.
In a rare weekend lull in the unrest that has embroiled the financial hub, democratic candidates across the city of 7.4 million secured more than half of the 452 district council seats for the first time, against a strongly resourced and mobilised pro-establishment opposition.
READ: Our coverage of the Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong's district councils control some spending and decide a range of local livelihood issues such as transport, and they also serve as an important grassroots platform to radiate political influence in the city ruled by communist China.
Some winning candidates said the result was akin to a vote of support for the protest movement, and could raise the pressure on Hong Kong's pro-Beijing chief executive, Carrie Lam, amid the city's worst political crisis in decades.
"This is the power of democracy. This is a democratic tsunami," said Tommy Cheung, a former student protest leader who won a seat in the Yuen Long district close to China's border.
Initial results from the voting, which ended with no major disruptions in a day that saw massive queues form outside many voting centers, began to trickle in after midnight.
Many people clamoured to vote early, fearful that possible disruptions would lead to voting centers closing early.
As of 5am, pro-democracy candidates had secured a majority with at least 283 seats, compared to about 32 seats for the pro-establishment camp, according to local media estimates. A record 1,104 candidates were vying for 452 seats.
Electoral affairs chief Barnabus Fung said at least 2.94 million people voted, a record turnout of more than 71 per cent that appeared to have been spurred by the turmoil. About 1.47 million voted in the last district elections four years ago.
"The performance of the pro-democracy camp will send a signal to Beijing," said Andrew Li, a 22-year-old student who supported a pro-democracy candidate. "By ignoring people's demands, it wakes up all Hong Kong people to come out and vote."
READ: Chinese state media urge Hong Kongers to 'vote to end violence'
FORMAL CONFRONTATION
Demonstrators are angry at what they see as Chinese meddling in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. They say they are also responding to perceived police brutality.
China denies interfering and says it is committed to the "one country, two systems" formula for the autonomy of Hong Kong. Police say they have shown restraint in the face of potentially deadly attacks.
Jimmy Sham, a candidate for the Civil Human Rights Front, which organised some of the anti-government rallies, won his electoral contest and said the turnout should be a sign to the government that it should listen to their voices.
"This election is special because it is a formal confrontation between pro-establishment and pro-democracy parties after months of unrest caused by the misstep of government," he said, standing on crutches weeks after he was beaten by men with hammers during a rally in October.
"It is a victory for the people of Hong Kong."
Other successful pro-democracy candidates included Lester Shum, a former student leader of the umbrella movement in 2014, and Kelvin Lam, who stood in after activist Joshua Wong was barred from running.
A number of pro-Beijing heavyweights including Junius Ho, an incumbent injured in a knife attack this month, lost to a pro-democracy challenger. In a message on his Facebook page, Ho said it had been an "exceptional year, an exceptional election, and an unusual result".
READ: Knife-wielding man attacks Hong Kong pro-Beijing lawmaker
Some veteran pro-Beijing politicians, who have been shoo-ins in previous polls, attributed their losses to the broader discontent.
"Our loss is not because of our work in the local districts, it’s because of the political sentiment," said Horace Cheung, who noted he received 500 more votes this year than four years ago, but still lost.
CAMPUS STANDOFF
Casting her ballot, Hong Kong's chief executive Lam, who is backed by Beijing, pledged that her government would listen more intensively to the views of district councils.
"I hope this kind of stability and calm is not only for today's election, but to show that everyone does not want Hong Kong to fall into a chaotic situation again," Lam said.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam casts her vote during the district council elections. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP)
The protests started over a now-withdrawn extradition Bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial but rapidly evolved into calls for full democracy, posing the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
The protests have at times forced the closure of government, businesses and schools as police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in response to petrol bombs and rocks.
The run-up to the election was marked by attacks on candidates, with Ho stabbed and wounded and another having part of his ear bitten off.

 

[tanwahtiu]

Eh... Escher aka Lao Tze in common.... shorten yr mesaage. Take too long to scroll down to see next nick....

Hong Kong democrats score landslide victory in local elections amid political crisis
Pro-democracy supporters celebrate after pro-Beijing candidate Junius Ho lost a seat in the district council elections in Tuen Mun district of Hong Kong, early on Nov 25, 2019. (Photo: AFP / PHILIP FONG)
25 Nov 2019 06:42AM
(Updated: 25 Nov 2019 06:50AM)
Share this content
Bookmark
HONG KONG: Pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong romped to a landslide and symbolic majority in district council elections after residents turned out in record numbers on Sunday (Nov 24) to vote following six months of anti-government protests in the embattled city.
In a rare weekend lull in the unrest that has embroiled the financial hub, democratic candidates across the city of 7.4 million secured more than half of the 452 district council seats for the first time, against a strongly resourced and mobilised pro-establishment opposition.
READ: Our coverage of the Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong's district councils control some spending and decide a range of local livelihood issues such as transport, and they also serve as an important grassroots platform to radiate political influence in the city ruled by communist China.
Some winning candidates said the result was akin to a vote of support for the protest movement, and could raise the pressure on Hong Kong's pro-Beijing chief executive, Carrie Lam, amid the city's worst political crisis in decades.
"This is the power of democracy. This is a democratic tsunami," said Tommy Cheung, a former student protest leader who won a seat in the Yuen Long district close to China's border.
Initial results from the voting, which ended with no major disruptions in a day that saw massive queues form outside many voting centers, began to trickle in after midnight.
Many people clamoured to vote early, fearful that possible disruptions would lead to voting centers closing early.
As of 5am, pro-democracy candidates had secured a majority with at least 283 seats, compared to about 32 seats for the pro-establishment camp, according to local media estimates. A record 1,104 candidates were vying for 452 seats.
Electoral affairs chief Barnabus Fung said at least 2.94 million people voted, a record turnout of more than 71 per cent that appeared to have been spurred by the turmoil. About 1.47 million voted in the last district elections four years ago.
"The performance of the pro-democracy camp will send a signal to Beijing," said Andrew Li, a 22-year-old student who supported a pro-democracy candidate. "By ignoring people's demands, it wakes up all Hong Kong people to come out and vote."
READ: Chinese state media urge Hong Kongers to 'vote to end violence'
FORMAL CONFRONTATION
Demonstrators are angry at what they see as Chinese meddling in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. They say they are also responding to perceived police brutality.
China denies interfering and says it is committed to the "one country, two systems" formula for the autonomy of Hong Kong. Police say they have shown restraint in the face of potentially deadly attacks.
Jimmy Sham, a candidate for the Civil Human Rights Front, which organised some of the anti-government rallies, won his electoral contest and said the turnout should be a sign to the government that it should listen to their voices.
"This election is special because it is a formal confrontation between pro-establishment and pro-democracy parties after months of unrest caused by the misstep of government," he said, standing on crutches weeks after he was beaten by men with hammers during a rally in October.
"It is a victory for the people of Hong Kong."
Other successful pro-democracy candidates included Lester Shum, a former student leader of the umbrella movement in 2014, and Kelvin Lam, who stood in after activist Joshua Wong was barred from running.
A number of pro-Beijing heavyweights including Junius Ho, an incumbent injured in a knife attack this month, lost to a pro-democracy challenger. In a message on his Facebook page, Ho said it had been an "exceptional year, an exceptional election, and an unusual result".
READ: Knife-wielding man attacks Hong Kong pro-Beijing lawmaker
Some veteran pro-Beijing politicians, who have been shoo-ins in previous polls, attributed their losses to the broader discontent.
"Our loss is not because of our work in the local districts, it’s because of the political sentiment," said Horace Cheung, who noted he received 500 more votes this year than four years ago, but still lost.
CAMPUS STANDOFF
Casting her ballot, Hong Kong's chief executive Lam, who is backed by Beijing, pledged that her government would listen more intensively to the views of district councils.
"I hope this kind of stability and calm is not only for today's election, but to show that everyone does not want Hong Kong to fall into a chaotic situation again," Lam said.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam casts her vote during the district council elections. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP)
The protests started over a now-withdrawn extradition Bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial but rapidly evolved into calls for full democracy, posing the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
The protests have at times forced the closure of government, businesses and schools as police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in response to petrol bombs and rocks.
The run-up to the election was marked by attacks on candidates, with Ho stabbed and wounded and another having part of his ear bitten off.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Eh... Escher aka Lao Tze in common.... shorten yr mesaage. Take too long to scroll down to see next nick....

Sorry. The post is not catered to illiterate retards like u

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Hong Kong's democrats sweep local elections in snub to Beijing-backed establishment
Updated 10 minutes ago

PHOTO If pro-democracy candidates gain control, they could gain seats on the panel that chooses the city's chief executive. AP: KIN CHEUNG
Hong Kong pro-democracy candidates have swept the city's district council elections, the city's first poll to be held after almost six months of anti-Government protests.
Results published by broadcaster HK01 show that 451 out of 452 seats have been counted, with pro-democracy candidates taking 385 seats, or about 85 per cent of the spots up for grabs.
Pro-establishment candidates, who champion Beijing's rule, were left with 58 seats at 12:45pm (local time).
Four years ago at the previous vote, democrats only secured about 100 seats.
Pro-democracy candidates now are in the running to gain six seats on Hong Kong's semi-representative Legislative Council and 117 seats on the 1,200-member panel that selects the city's chief executive.
The city's current Beijing-backed chief executive, Carrie Lam, said her Government would "listen humbly" to the public after voters dealt a humiliating election setback to the political establishment she heads.

"The Government will certainly listen humbly to citizens' opinions and reflect on them seriously," she said in a statement issued by the Government.

Electoral affairs chief Barnabus Fung said at least 2.94 million people voted, a record turnout of more than 71 per cent that appeared to have been spurred by the turmoil.
About 1.47 million people voted in the last district elections four years ago.
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'It's a resounding victory'
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Video 1:05
Pro-democracy district council winner, Kelvin Lam, says the initial results sent a strong sign to the government
ABC News
This year's poll saw a record 1,104 candidates vying for 452 seats.
When the results began trickling in after midnight (local time), including upset wins for democrats against heavyweight pro-Beijing opponents, some voting centres erupted in loud cheers and chants of "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution now", which has been a slogan for many anti-Government protesters.
Some winning candidates said the result was akin to a vote of support for the demonstrators, and could raise the heat on Ms Lam, amid the city's worst political crisis in decades.
"This is the power of democracy. This is a democratic tsunami," Tommy Cheung, a former student protest leader who won a seat in the Yuen Long district close to China's border, said.

PHOTO Pro-democracy supporters have been protesting for greater freedoms from China for almost six months. AP: VINCENT YU
Other successful pro-democracy candidates included Lester Shum, a former student leader of the city's 2014 Umbrella Movement, and Kelvin Lam, who stood in after activist Joshua Wong was barred from running.
The elections are seen as a test of support for the embattled Chief Executive, who has faced intense pressure during months of unrest in the Chinese-ruled city.
Ma Ngok, a political scientist at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the results were a "resounding victory" and that no-one could have predicted the enormous turnout of voters.

"The Government and the pro-Beijing camp have always claimed they have public support. But now … this is a big slap in the face because the public has showed their real position in record numbers," he said.

"Most people think the extra 1 million voters came out to send a political message to the Government, that they still support the protesters and they're dissatisfied with the Government."
'Ignoring political rights is a losing strategy'

PHOTO Pro-democracy candidates have claimed a majority, although counting of the ballots continues. AP: VINCENT YU
Demonstrators are angry at what they see as Chinese meddling in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" principle.
Under the terms of the Sino-British joint declaration of 1984, Hong Kong was to be granted British capitalism, common law, and personal freedoms for a period of 50 years from the handover.
Sunday was also the seventh day of a standoff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, whose campus has been surrounded by police as some protesters hid out on the grounds.
However, China has dismissed the protesters' claims and said it is committed to 'one country, two systems' for the autonomy of Hong Kong. Police claim they have shown restraint in the face of increasingly violent protests
Human Rights Watch's China director Sophie Richardson told the ABC that Hong Kong's election result should prompt Beijing to "engage people on their legitimate grievances".

"Ignoring assertions of political rights—either through the ballot box or peaceful street protests—is a losing strategy," she said.

Share of votes cast points to more complex picture

PHOTO Carrie Lam has called for continued calm after voting occurred without incident. REUTERS: ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA
Deng Fei, director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, told the ABC the election did not show that "public opinion as a whole is against Beijing".

"But if you look at the votes, there is no such big difference. About 58 per cent of voters voted for the pan-democratic camp and 39 per cent for the pro-establishment camp," he said.

He said the overwhelming result in favour of democratic candidates was a quirk of Hong Kong's electoral system.
Nonetheless, Hong Kong's leader, who is backed by Beijing, pledged that her Government would listen more intensively to the views of district councils.

"I hope this kind of stability and calm is not only for today's election, but to show that everyone does not want Hong Kong to fall into a chaotic situation again," Ms Lam said.

PHOTO A record number of registered voters took part in Hong Kong's district council elections. AP: NG HAN GUAN
ABC/wires

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Commentary: Hong Kong poll win will embolden protesters
Victory in the Hong Kong District Council polls will give democrats more channels of influence, says the Financial Times’ Joe Leahy.
A woman reacts during the counting of the votes of the Hong Kong council elections, in a polling station in Hong Kong, China November 25, 2019. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
25 Nov 2019 02:52PM
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SINGAPORE: For months, Beijing has described Hong Kong’s protesters as “behaving like terrorists” manipulated by foreign forces against the will of a suffering population.
On Sunday (Nov 24), the people of Hong Kong gave their verdict in the first vote since the demonstrations erupted in June.
In one of the biggest voter turnouts in Hong Kong history, the pro-democracy camp won 17 of 18 districts — compared with zero in the last poll four years ago.
Some of the most prominent pro-Beijing figures lost their seats while hardline democracy activists won theirs.
A PEACEFUL VOTE
Despite concerns of violence, the vote was peaceful. There were no clashes between police and black-clad protesters, just candidates and their supporters waving to passersby.
The elections followed one of the most disruptive fortnights in the protests. Police laid siege to universities and protesters snarled up transport forcing schools to close.
One of the sieges, at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, was still under way on Monday — a week after it began.
Analysts thought the violence might weaken popular support for the movement. The district council elections have put paid to that speculation.
READ: Commentary: Hong Kong campus siege widens split between moderates, radicals

THE POWERS THE COUNCILS HAVE
The councils lack political power, mostly advising the government on quotidian community matters.
But the victory will give the pro-democracy camp new channels of influence.
Winning candidate Kelvin Lam and activist Joshua Wong greet people and thank them for their support, outside of South Horizons Station, in Hong Kong on Nov 25, 2019, the morning after Lam won in district council elections. (Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis)
The winner of the district council elections can nominate six people to the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s de facto parliament, and 117 people to the 1,200-member election committee of mostly pro-Beijing loyalists that selects the city’s chief executive.
The significance of the district council elections, however, is that they are the most direct vote in the territory. They are decided by simple majority, in contrast to the LegCo poll that gives an outsized voice to business.
This poll was a referendum on the protest movement.
A DEEPENING CRISIS
The crisis facing the Hong Kong government and its Beijing masters has now deepened.
An emboldened protest movement will press its demands even harder, including those for universal suffrage in the election of Hong Kong’s leader and an independent inquiry into allegations of police brutality.
One solution might be for Beijing to offer political reform. This would not be unprecedented.
In 2014, President Xi Jinping made a proposal according to which Beijing would provide a list of screened candidates for the leadership. Hong Kong voters would be able to elect one of them by direct vote.
This was rejected by the pro-democracy camp but Beijing could try to produce another plan for consideration. That at least would raise the prospect of a political solution to the city’s dilemma.

 

[Insider Player]

Well done
If only sinkies can have one iota of hongkies democracy in their blood

 

[zeebjii]

Well done
If only sinkies can have one iota of hongkies democracy in their blood

Are you a sinkie, or a hongkie?

Sinkies have much bigger balls than the hongkie snowflakes. OMG just look at the crying rascals' faces when caught by the police.

We kicked the british out, while the hongkies loved being obedient slaves to their white masters.

That is why we are where we are today.

So i should rephrase your statement...

"If only hongkies can have one iota of sinkies democracy in their blood"