Hong Kong district council election begins peacefully

HONG KONG - Voting at district council election in Hong Kong began peacefully on Sunday morning.

Within the first hour, the voter turnout rate stood at 3.82 percent - a jump from 1.28 percent recorded over a similar duration in 2015.

Long lines formed outside polling stations for 452 seats in the city's 18 district councils. China Daily reporters witnessed long queues of voters at Aberdeen, Sai Ying Pun and across the Special Administrative Region (SAR).

A record 1,090 people are running for 452 district seats and a record 4.1 million Hong Kong people have enrolled to vote for district councilors

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor cast her vote shortly before 9 am.

"The polling hours for ordinary polling stations are from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm today, 15 hours in total. Long queues have been formed in some polling stations this morning, because electors cast their votes at approximately the same time" a spokesman for the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) said. He urged voters to wait in an orderly manner till the time polling staff could serve them.

A record 1,090 people are running for 452 district seats and a record 4.1 million Hong Kong people have enrolled to vote for district councillors, who control some local spending, and whose daily decision making spans a range of neighborhood issues including recycling, transport and public healthcare.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said that the vote is a “real democratic exercise,” and that a strong police presence at polling stations will ensure that it proceeds smoothly.