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HONG KONG - HONG Kong's opposition pro-democracy parties scored a surprise success on Monday in legislative elections, winning enough seats to retain influence over future political reforms.
Sunday's polls were the most fiercely conducted since Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, with a record number of candidates decking out the city in banners and canvassing last minute swing votes by foot and open-top vehicles.
The pro-democracy camp that includes the Democratic Party, Civic Party and other factions, clinched at least one-third, or 21, of the legislature's 60 seats.
They won 19 of the 30 directly elected seats and at least two seats in the so-called functional constituencies, voted upon by special interest, mostly commercial groups, that are traditionally dominated by pro-Beijing forces.
In the closely fought East New Territories district, maverick activist lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung won re-election, while veteran democratic lawmaker Emily Lau managed to retain her seat despite predictions to the contrary.
'Hong Kong has gone backwards on democracy, human rights and the rule of law,' said Ms Lau. 'So now that I'm back in, I'm going to fight for these core values.'
A relatively low turnout rate of 45 per cent had been expected to weigh against the democratic camp, but a mixture of luck and effective vote management likely helped the opposition, analysts said.
'I think the pan-democracy supporters did a marvellous job of using collective wisdom of vote division without really any kind of formidable, organised mechanism,' said political scientist Ma Ngok with Chinese University.
Mr Ma added the pro-business Liberal Party had fared poorly as the better mobilised pro-Beijing DAB party had taken votes away from them.
Since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule, the Democrats have pressured Beijing's Communist leaders to allow direct polls as promised in the city's mini-constitution, or Basic Law.
Beijing agreed last December, ruling to allow universal suffrage in 2017 at the earliest, taking much of the steam out of the pro-democracy campaign.
But the Democrats fear China will propose a watered down version, with electoral rules stacked against pro-democracy candidates. Had the democratic camp failed to win at least 21 seats, they would have been unable to veto such a move.
'We now have a say in the political reform package,' said Mr Fred Li, a Democratic lawmaker who won a seat in Kowloon East.
'We still have a trump card in our hand.' -- REUTERS
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