HONG KONG - Hong Kong voters cast ballots on Sunday in a legislative by-election, a contest which has been likened to a referendum on democracy in the city that returned to Chinese rule 10 years ago.
The election on Hong Kong island pits two charismatic former civil servants -- Anson Chan and Regina Ip -- against each other and has been one of the most watched campaigns in recent years, even sparking scuffles between supporters from the two camps.
The final result will not change the balance of power in the 60-member Legislative Council (Legco), but is widely considered an indicator of political preferences among Hong Kong's people.
"It remains to be seen whether the outcome will have any bearing on the model for political reforms the government will ultimately present (to Beijing)," said the South China Morning Post said. "It might help shape how the central government perceives the city's aspirations for full democracy."
Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, is picked by an 800-seat committee under the influence of the Communist leadership in Beijing. Half of the legislature is popularly elected and half picked by "functional constituencies".
The city's constitution makes universal suffrage the ultimate aim of political reform, but is vague on the timing and roadmap. Analysts say Beijing wants to delay as long as possible.
Chan and Ip both say they favour the introduction of universal suffrage by the next chief executive election, which is in 2012, but they differ on important technicalities, including how candidates should be nominated.
DEMOCRACY
