Hong Kong elections: Carrie Lam promises open mind after election rout

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has said the government will listen to the public with an open mind, after pro-Beijing candidates were resoundingly defeated in local elections. According to local media counts, the pro-democracy parties took 390 of 452 district council seats (nearly 90 per cent).

The election saw an unprecedented voter turnout of more than 71%. The result is being seen as a stinging rebuke of Ms Lam's leadership through many



months of protest and clashes. In a statement released online this morning, Ms Lam said the government respected the results.

 

For nearly six months demonstrations and unrest have continued unabated - they were sparked by a now withdrawn extradition bill. The protest movement has several key demands including direct popular elections and a probe into alleged police brutality.