> The election for 452 district council seats was widely seen as a referendum on public attitudes after nearly six months of social unrest. Antigovernment senti

> The election for 452 district council seats was widely seen as a referendum on public attitudes after nearly six months of social unrest. Antigovernment sentiment on the streets translated to the ballot box, as a record 2.9 million voters made their choices—more than 70% of those eligible. The election proceeded without unrest on Sunday. > By 7 a.m. on Monday in Hong Kong, pro-democracy candidates had won 278 seats, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported, compared with only about a quarter of the seats in 2015. > While district councilors typically only handle neighborhood matters and lack legislative power, they hold close to 10% of the seats on the 1,200-member election committee that chooses Hong Kong’s chief executive, its highest office. District councilors also have six seats on the city’s 70-strong legislature, which is only partially elected. > Protesters have made universal suffrage for chief executive and the Legislative Council a main demand, propelling the opposition movement. > Many of the winners of the evening were young candidates entering political life for the first time.