More than 160,000 people vote in Hong Kong democracy poll

HONG KONG - Agence France-Presse

More than 160,000 people took part in an unofficial Hong Kong vote on electoral reform on June 20, 2014, at a time of heightened tensions as pro-democracy activists worry that Beijing will backtrack on its promise of universal suffrage. AFP Photo

More than 160,000 people took part in an unofficial Hong Kong vote on electoral reform Friday, at a time of heightened tensions as pro-democracy activists worry that Beijing will backtrack on its promise of universal suffrage.
      
As of 4 pm local time (0800 GMT), four hours after online polling opened, 166,980 people had taken part in the informal "civil referendum" which asks participants to choose between three methods to vote for Hong Kong's next leader in 2017.
      
Occupy Central, the local pro-democracy movement that organised the vote, said a high turnout would prove the city's determination to win "true" universal suffrage for the semi-autonomous city.
      
Under the "one country, two systems" agreement reached when Hong Kong was handed over from former colonial power Britain to Communist-ruled China in 1997, Hong Kong has guaranteed civil liberties not enjoyed on the mainland, including free speech and the right to protest.
      
The city's leader, or chief executive, is currently appointed by a pro-Beijing committee.
      
China has promised direct elections for the next chief executive in 2017 -- but has ruled out allowing voters to choose which candidates can stand.
      
Many pro-democrats fear Beijing will hand-pick the candidates to ensure election of a sympathetic official.
      
"If we could get a good turnout, that shows that Hong Kong people are really determined to have true democracy," Benny Tai, one of Occupy Central's founders, said at a launch event for Friday's vote.
      
Polling will continue until June 29, with organisers expecting 300,000 voters to take part.
      
Residents have so far cast their votes online and via smartphones, but organisers are planning to open polling booths around the city on Sunday.
      
Chinese authorities said Friday that any referendum in Hong Kong on how to elect its leader would not have constitutional grounds and would be illegal and invalid, state news agency Xinhua reported.
      
Occupy Central is planning to paralyse Hong Kong's financial district with thousands of protesters at the end of the year, as a last resort if officials do not allow voters to choose their own candidates.
      
A high turnout in the ongoing vote may indicate that "there may be more Hong Kong people willing to come out and join the final action, and that will generate sufficient political pressure on the government", Tai said.
      
The vote comes amid rising fears that the civil liberties enjoyed by Hong Kong -- guaranteed only until 2047 under the "one country, two systems" agreement -- are being steadily eroded.