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Hong Kong holds legislative polls | |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Residents of Hong Kong have been voting in an election expected to favour supporters of the Chinese government. | |
Analysts say a surge in nationalism following the Olympic Games has weakened the pro-democracy camp. | |
Turnout is reported to have been low in the Chinese-administered but autonomous territory, which could also boost the pro-Beijing candidates. | |
Only half the 60 seats in the legislature are currently in play, with the rest filled by interest groups. | |
But correspondents say Hong Kong's election process remains by far the most open anywhere in China. | |
China has promised the region some form of universal suffrage by 2017. | |
The democratic camp won most votes last time around, but China has blunted its appeal by offering this promise of future democracy. | |
The deep unpopularity of the administration of chief executive Donald Tsang after a string of recent blunders is unlikely to have a major impact. | |
Limited franchise | Limited franchise |
As democratic candidates discovered four years ago, winning a majority of the votes cast was not enough to gain control of the legislative chamber. | As democratic candidates discovered four years ago, winning a majority of the votes cast was not enough to gain control of the legislative chamber. |
In this limited franchise, it gave them just 25 of the 30 seats available in the freely-elected half of the council, with 30 other seats chosen by interest groups. | |
These "functional constituencies" include groups of as few as 144 voters, and are defined by professional allegiance, such as the financial sector, tourism and education. | These "functional constituencies" include groups of as few as 144 voters, and are defined by professional allegiance, such as the financial sector, tourism and education. |
This year, 14 of the 30 functional constituency seats are uncontested, leaving a total of 46 seats available. | This year, 14 of the 30 functional constituency seats are uncontested, leaving a total of 46 seats available. |