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HK voters begin choosing a leader Hong Kong votes for leader panel
(about 14 hours later)
Voters in Hong Kong are electing the members of a committee that will choose the territory's next leader. Voters in Hong Kong have gone to the polls to elect the members of a committee that will choose the territory's next leader.
Those eligible to vote include members of political or professional bodies - less than 5% of the population.
Pro-democracy groups are hoping to win enough representation on the 800-seat committee to enter a candidate in next March's chief executive contest.Pro-democracy groups are hoping to win enough representation on the 800-seat committee to enter a candidate in next March's chief executive contest.
There are 427 seats being contested, with the rest already allocated.There are 427 seats being contested, with the rest already allocated.
Candidates will need the backing of at least 100 members if they want to challenge the incumbent, Donald Tsang, who is backed by China. Candidates will need the backing of at least 100 members if they want to challenge the China-backed incumbent.
Mr Tsang is expected to win re-election when he final vote is held. Donald Tsang is expected to win re-election when the final vote is held.
Beijing 'worried'Beijing 'worried'
The BBC's Vaudine England, in Hong Kong, says that the democrats already admit that their chosen potential candidate, lawyer Alan Leong, has no chance of beating Mr Tsang. The BBC's Vaudine England, in Hong Kong, says the democrats already admit that their chosen potential candidate, lawyer Alan Leong, has no chance of beating Mr Tsang.
But for the first time since Hong Kong was handed back to China by the UK in 1997, the democrat groups now say they feel that it is worth taking part in the contest. But according to Mr Leong, a recent campaign against him had actually boosted voter turnout.
"The recent smearing has in fact helped to make people realise how important this election committee election is," he said.
For the first time since Hong Kong was handed back to China by the UK in 1997, the democrat groups now say they feel that it is worth taking part in the contest.
"I think Beijing is worrying about some people thinking of this time nominating Alan Leong so we have some kind of competition," Priscilla Lau, a Hong Kong deputy to China's parliament, the National People's Congress, told the Reuters news agency."I think Beijing is worrying about some people thinking of this time nominating Alan Leong so we have some kind of competition," Priscilla Lau, a Hong Kong deputy to China's parliament, the National People's Congress, told the Reuters news agency.
"They don't like this kind of game," she said."They don't like this kind of game," she said.
AtmosphereAtmosphere
Sunday's election is not expected to make a wide impact in Hong Kong, where just over 200,000 people from a population of 7.2 million are eligible to vote.Sunday's election is not expected to make a wide impact in Hong Kong, where just over 200,000 people from a population of 7.2 million are eligible to vote.
The electorate is drawn from a selection of political organisations and business and professional communities.The electorate is drawn from a selection of political organisations and business and professional communities.
"The atmosphere so far is no good, ordinary citizens have no idea there is an important election," said James Sung, a political scientist at Hong Kong's City University."The atmosphere so far is no good, ordinary citizens have no idea there is an important election," said James Sung, a political scientist at Hong Kong's City University.
Of the 373 seats already allocated, 96 are assigned to members of Hong Kong's assembly, or to Hong Kong members of the National People's Congress in Beijing.Of the 373 seats already allocated, 96 are assigned to members of Hong Kong's assembly, or to Hong Kong members of the National People's Congress in Beijing.
Other members are appointed through their professions or through political appointment.Other members are appointed through their professions or through political appointment.
Results are not expected until early on Monday.