Opposition stumbles in vote for councils

Pro-establishment candidates in Hong Kong's election for district councils held on to a majority in polling characterized by record turnout, the emergence of new faces and a diluted opposition base.

In Sunday's contest, 867 candidates vied for 363 of the 431 seats across 18 district councils in the city, with each seat representing a small neighborhood. Including the taking of 66 uncontested seats, pro-establishment candidates took 298 seats and retained majority control of all councils.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions altogether won 146 seats. They drew one-fourth more ballots than in the last election in 2011, although they had no gain in the number of seats.