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Hong Kong legislative polls open Hong Kong holds legislative polls
(about 12 hours later)
Polls have opened in Hong Kong's elections for the Legislative Council. Residents of Hong Kong have been voting in an election expected to favour supporters of the Chinese government.
Voters in the Chinese-administered but autonomous territory can elect 50% the Council's seats, with the rest chosen by special limited constituencies. Analysts say a surge in nationalism following the Olympic Games has weakened the pro-democracy camp.
An upsurge in patriotic feeling after the recent Beijing Olympics is expected to help the pro-government candidates. Turnout is reported to have been low in the Chinese-administered but autonomous territory, which could also boost the pro-Beijing candidates.
The democratic camp won most votes last time around, but China has blunted its appeal by offering a conditional promise of future democracy. Only half the 60 seats in the legislature are currently in play, with the rest filled by interest groups.
About a third of voters have remained undecided ahead of this election, with economic and livelihood concerns paramount and few other huge issues provoking controversy. 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 franchiseLimited 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. 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.
Voting turnout is expected to be moderate, comprising about half of the 3.3 million potential voters.
Patriotic surge
This time around, pro-government parties are expected to do better - even though the administration of chief executive Donald Tsang is deeply unpopular after a string of recent blunders.
The democrats' argument for full democracy in this former British colony has been blunted by China's conditional promise of some kind of universal suffrage by 2017.
Most importantly, patriotic feelings toward China have surged - after the tragedy of the Sichuan earthquake and the huge excitement and pride generated by the Beijing Olympics.