Hong Kong voters headed to the polls Sunday in lower numbers, with the city's pro-democracy parties scrambling to avoid heavy losses and several high-profile politicians facing potential defeat.Despite warm sunshine in the afternoon, official figures showed only about 45 percent of registered voters cast their ballots, down from the nearly 56 percent turnout in 2004.The vote was expected to provide a barometer for pro-democracy parties in the former British colony in the face of growing Chinese patriotism, with results expected early Monday.Only 30 of the 60 legislative seats were being chosen by the city's 3.37 million registered electors. The remaining 30 "functional constituencies" represent various business and industry interests chosen by select electorates.
Hong Kong voters headed to the polls Sunday in lower numbers, with the city's pro-democracy parties scrambling to avoid heavy losses and several high-profile politicians facing potential defeat.
Despite warm sunshine in the afternoon, official figures showed only about 45 percent of registered voters cast their ballots, down from the nearly 56 percent turnout in 2004.
The vote was expected to provide a barometer for pro-democracy parties in the former British colony in the face of growing Chinese patriotism, with results expected early Monday.
Only 30 of the 60 legislative seats were being chosen by the city's 3.37 million registered electors. The remaining 30 "functional constituencies" represent various business and industry interests chosen by select electorates.
Worries about inflation and other livelihood issues were at the top of voters' agendas during legislative elections here on Sunday, as pro-business candidates lost out to rivals promising to introduce a minimum wage and reduce pollution. The biggest rift in Hong Kong politics, between those who favor greater democracy and those who support the Beijing-backed local government, produced little change on Sunday. Most of the pro-democracy legislators kept their seats despite low turnout by middle-class and upper-middle-class voters, who make up their main support. Democracy advocates won 24 seats in the 60-member Legislature, down from 26 in the current Legislature. They captured 19 of the 30 seats selected in voting by the general public and 5 of the 30 chosen by business groups, the professions and labor unions.
The biggest rift in Hong Kong politics, between those who favor greater democracy and those who support the Beijing-backed local government, produced little change on Sunday.
Most of the pro-democracy legislators kept their seats despite low turnout by middle-class and upper-middle-class voters, who make up their main support. Democracy advocates won 24 seats in the 60-member Legislature, down from 26 in the current Legislature.
They captured 19 of the 30 seats selected in voting by the general public and 5 of the 30 chosen by business groups, the professions and labor unions.
