A small electoral college began voting for a new Hong Kong leader on Sunday amid accusations that Beijing is meddling and denying the Chinese-ruled financial hub a more populist leader perhaps better suited to defuse political tension.
The majority of the city's 7.3 million people have no say in deciding their next leader, with the winner chosen by a 1,200-person "election committee" stacked with pro-Beijing and pro-establishment loyalists.
Three candidates are running for the top post - two former officials, Carrie Lam and John Tsang, and a retired judge, Woo Kwok-hing. Lam is considered the favourite.
Outside the voting centre, there were some scuffles between protesters and police. The protesters denounced Beijing's "interference" amid widespread reports of lobbying of the voters to back Lam, rather than the more populist and conciliatory former finance chief, Tsang.
"Lies, coercion, whitewash," read one protest banner.
"The central government has intervened again and again," said Carmen Tong, a 20-year-old university student. "It's very unjust."
Some democracy activists hung a yellow banner from a peak called Lion Rock, overlooking the city, with the slogan, "I want universal suffrage".
Security was tight around the harbourfront voting centre with metal barricades and large numbers of police deployed, and protesters were kept well away from the immediate vicinity.
Since Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997, Beijing has gradually increased control over the territory even though China had promised wide-ranging freedoms and autonomy under the formula of "one country, two systems", along with an undated promise of universal suffrage.
Many fear that Lam will continue the tough policies of staunchly pro-Beijing incumbent Leung Chun-ying, a divisive figure who ordered the firing of tear gas on pro-democracy protesters in 2014 and who was not seen to be defending Hong Kong's autonomy and core values.
POLITICAL DIVISION
The political upheavals with Beijing over the city's autonomy and democratic reforms - that many hoped would have allowed a direct election this time round - have roiled a new generation and weighed on the city's economy, ranked 33rd globally by the World Bank in 2015.
Political and social divisions, mainly over democracy and anxieties over China's creeping influence, have dominated political debate leading to some legislative and policy-making paralysis and the stalling of major projects, including a cultural hub and high-speed rail link to China.
While Hong Kong's proximity to China has been a boon for the city, bringing in Chinese investment and spending, businesses have also faced growing competition from mainland Chinese firms in core sectors like services and property.
Housing prices, now among the world's highest, are widely seen to have been pushed up by an unrelenting wave of buying from rich Chinese, intensifying anti-mainland China sentiment.
Many observers, businessmen and politicians have warned Hong Kong can't afford another period of upheaval if it is to regain its former capitalist allure.
Beijing's detention of five Hong Kong booksellers in late 2015, and the disappearance of a Chinese billionaire this year, have also undermined confidence in the "one country, two systems" formula.
While Beijing has not explicitly backed any candidate, senior officials have stressed certain conditions must be met including a new leader having the "trust" of China's Communist leaders.
"Just because a candidate is leading popularity polls doesn't necessarily mean you should vote for (that person)," outgoing city leader Leung said on Friday.
Reuters
Sun Mar 26 2017
Candidates Woo Kwok-hing, Carrie Lam and John Tsang (L-R) pose for picture as they greet election committee members during the election for Hong Kong's next Chief Executive in Hong Kong, China March 26, 2017. - REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Pemandu lori maut dihempap paip: JKKP P. Pinang keluar notis pemberhentian kerja pemunggahan
JKKP Pulau Pinang juga telah mengarahkan majikan menjalankan siasatan dalaman untuk mengenal pasti punca kejadian.
Ribuan penunjuk perasaan Israel tentang Netanyahu
Peserta tunjuk perasaan menuduh Netanyahu meneruskan peperangan untuk terus berkuasa.
Tentera Ukraine tembak jatuh pesawat pejuang Rusia
Zelenskyy berkata Moscow tidak mempunyai keinginan untuk berdamai dan mereka hanya boleh dipaksa meninggalkan Ukraine.
Tentera Ukraine tembak jatuh pesawat pejuang Rusia
Tentera Ukraine menembak jatuh pesawat pejuang pengebom SU-25 Rusia di wilayah Donetsk di timur Ukraine pada Sabtu kata presidennya, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Panama bersedia untuk pemilihan Presiden
Panama bersedia untuk pilihan raya Presiden di tengah-tengah krisis politik yang dihangatkan dengan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap kerajaan memerintah.
Penunjuk perasaan pro Palestin ditahan polis Virginia
Polis menahan beberapa penunjuk perasaan di Universiti Virginia pada Sabtu semasa puluhan pelajar menduduki perkhemahan pro-Palestin di kampus selepas menyifatkan perhimpunan itu sebagai menyalahi undang-undang.
Hampir 100% sedia, TH tunggu kt pertama 9 Mei ini
Ikuti perkongsian Editor Astro AWANI yang juga petugas media musim haji 1445H/2024H mengenai persediaan Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) menjelang ketibaan KT pertama jemaah haji Malaysia di Madinah pada 9 Mei ini.
Banjir luar biasa landa Afrika Timur
Kawasan di Ethiopia, Kenya dan Tanzania yang biasanya gersang serta dilanda kemarau mengalami taburan hujan luar biasa.
Isteriku ternyata lelaki, terbongkar selepas 12 hari menikah
Adinda kini telah ditahan pihak polis selepas laporan dibuat oleh keluarga AK.
Selesai di Kedah, PM meriahkan pula Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri di Pulau Pinang
Sejurus selesai Majlis Sambutan Aidilfitri MADANI peringkat Kedah di Jitra, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim terus bergegas ke Pulau Pinang bagi menghadiri Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Persatuan Khalifah Jelutong malam tadi.
Lai Ching-te dari DPP menang Pilihan Raya Taiwan
Lai berdepan saingan tiga penjuru dengan Hou Yu-ih dari Kuomintang (KMT) dan Ko Wen-je dari Parti Rakyat Taiwan.
Pilihan Raya Taiwan: Rakyat mula jalankan tanggungjawab masing-masing
Pilihan raya tersebut menyusul ketika Beijing meningkatkan tekanan untuk mendapatkan pulau itu menerima kedaulatannya.
Beijing alami lebih banyak salji, gelombang sejuk dijangka melanda
Kawasan perbandaran Beijing mengalami lebih banyak salji pada Khamis dengan gelombang sejuk dijangka melanda ibu negara China itu pada Jumaat.
33 maut hujan paling lebat landa Beijing
Sekurang-kurangnya lima pekerja bantuan adalah antara mangsa yang maut. 18 orang lagi mangsa masih hilang.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Blinken tiba di China bagi kendurkan ketegangan
Beberapa siri pertemuan dengan wakil kerajaan berpangkat tinggi dirancang sebelum Blinken berlepas pada Isnin.
Gelombang panas landa beijing, suhu cecah 39 darjah Celsius
Bandar raya Beijing mengeluarkan amaran pada tahap oren berikutan suhu tinggi diramal mencecah 39 darjah Celsius pada Jumaat, menurut pihak berkuasa cuaca tempatan.
Diplomat kanan China, AS bincang tingkatkan hubungan dua hala
Perbincangan itu diadakan di Beijing pada 5 Jun, lapor Sputnik yang memetik Kementerian Luar China pada Selasa.
Presiden Xi mahu Beijing terajui bidang sains dan teknologi
China komited meneruskan strategi keterbukaan serta sedia berganding tangan dengan semua untuk mempromosi inovasi sains dan teknologi.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.