Hong Kong's democratic opposition was aiming to win back a crucial legislative council seat in an election Sunday that will restore some of its veto power at a time when the China-ruled city's freedoms are under strain.
The city's opposition Democrats squandered a chance in March to regain their veto power, garnering only two of four seats in a by-election and leaving them one seat short of blocking most bills in the 70-seat chamber, now largely controlled by pro-Beijing allies.
After 156 years of British colonial rule, Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula guaranteeing it a high degree of autonomy and the promise of eventual universal suffrage.