Results of Sunday's elections sent a clear message to the Beijing-backed government with pro-democracy candidates winning 389 out of 452 seats. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday, "It's not the final result yet. Let's wait for the final result, OK? However, it is clear that no matter what happens, Hong Kong is a part of China and a special administrative region of China."
Wang was in Tokyo meeting Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. The message is loud and clear that there is strong public support for the demands of a protest movement that has gripped the territory for months. "Any attempt to mess up Hong Kong, or even damage its prosperity and stability, will not succeed," Wang added.
The financial hub has been undergoing a crisis with pro-democracy protest, crippling the city. Protests have been taking place over concerns that Beijing is chipping away at the financial hub's special rights, which are unheard of in the mainland, including freedom of speech and an independent judiciary.
More than 70 per cent of the 4.1 million registered voters came out to vote in a record of sorts. It is a landslide victory for pro-democracy candidate in a shock majority of the normally establishment-dominated 18 district councils.
Hong Kong leader vows to 'listen humbly' to voters
Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam in the meantime said that her government would "listen humbly" to the public after voters dealt a humiliating election setback to the Beijing-backed establishment
"The government will certainly listen humbly to citizens' opinions and reflect on them seriously," she said.
