Hong Kong: Pro-democratic candidates get more than half of the seats

These are the first elections since the start of pro-democracy demonstrations in June, marked by record voter turnout.

For the first time, pro-democratic candidates secured more than half of the 452 countries in county councils, Reuters reports.

Among the election winners, according to the AP, are former student leaders, a candidate who replaced activist Joshua Wong, the only person to be banned from candidacy.

The rally organiser, Jimmy Shamm, who was beaten last month, was also triumphant, as was a pro-democracy deputy who was bitten by an attacker.

The largest pro-Chinese party suffered losses after losing more than 100 out of its 182 candidates.

Authorities announced they have voted over 2.7 million citizens, which is about two-thirds of registered voters.

The elections were peaceful and no major irregularities were recorded.

Recent polls have shown that support for pro-democracy forces is increasing.

The race included 1,044 candidates for 452 seats in the town's local government.

More than 4.13 million voters in Hong Kong had the right to vote in local elections.

Circle councils are low government bodies with a four-year mandate that care for local things in 18 districts, such as urban transportation and recreation facilities.

Since Great Britain turned Hong Kong under China's administration in 1997, this particular administrative region has operated on a “one country principle, two” systems. This gives the city's self-government and various freedoms, including limited electoral rights.

The town leader can only be appointed and elected by a 12,000-member committee, mainly pro-kinese elite.

The opposition is trying to force the Chinese government to respect the full democracy they say was promised by the Constitutional Law, the city's mini-system, which gives residents the right to choose their leader.

This is exactly one of the five protestors' demands and the reason for previous pro-democracy protests in 2014.

Without a change in political structure, the only way for the public to choose their leader is through district advisers, who make up about 10 percent of the election commission, and six percent of the parliamentarians.