HONG KONG ¨C Hong Kong began voting Sunday in a legislative election that will test the appeal of a new wave of anti-China activists and set the stage for future political fights over Beijing¡¯s control over the city.
The Legislative Council election is the first since police clashes with student protesters two years ago thrust the former British colony¡¯s struggle for greater democracy into the global spotlight. The scuffles exposed rifts in Hong Kong¡¯s political camps, with some prodemocracy advocates demanding a sharper break with China and other more establishment politicians calling for the ouster of the city¡¯s Beijing-backed leader.
The results, expected Monday, will impact Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying¡¯s ability to implement his agenda in the Asian financial hub and get re-elected in March. Also at stake is the opposition¡¯s capacity to block legislation with more than a third of the chamber¡¯s 70 seats, a key barrier to controversial bills like the proposed election overhaul that sparked the mass ¡°Occupy¡± rallies in 2014.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.