(4 Sep 2016) Voters turned out in force on Sunday for Hong Kong's most crucial election since the handover from Britain in 1997, the outcome of which could pave the way for a fresh round of political confrontations over Beijing's control of the city.
Turnout appeared to be higher than average, with people still queuing to cast their ballots at some polling stations late on Sunday night.
Some 52.6 percent of nearly 3.8 million registered voters had turned out an hour before the polls closed, matching the total turnout for the previous election four years ago.
Turnout in the 2008 election was 45.2 percent, according to the government's website.
The vote for Legislative Council lawmakers will test the unity of Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp, with a new generation of radical activists joining the race after emerging in the wake of 2014 pro-democracy street protests.
They're hoping to ride a rising tide of anti-China sentiment as they challenge formidably resourced pro-Beijing rivals for seats.
Many of the newcomers back the previously unthinkable idea of independence for Hong Kong, which has added to divisions with the broader pro-democracy movement and overshadowed the election.
Last month, officials disqualified six pro-independence candidates in an attempt to tamp down the debate, though other candidates with similar views made the cut.
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