18 June 2015
Legislators in Hong Kong have rejected a controversial Beijing-backed election reform package that sparked mass protests last year.
The reforms would have given Hong Kong voters the right to choose their leader for the first time in 2017.
But candidates would be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee and pro-democracy activists said the reforms only offered “fake democracy”.
Beijing said it would not change its position on democratic reforms.
Some in Hong Kong had hoped that if the proposals were rejected, China would be forced to offer more far-reaching reforms.
Voting confusion
The Chinese government issued a ruling on 31 August last year, saying that Hong Kong’s leader could be chosen by direct elections by 2017.
However, the ruling also said that only those nominated by a pro-Beijing committee could stand for election.
Beijing’s decision sparked protests that drew crowds of more than 100,000 people to the streets.
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Pro-government lawmakers were filmed walking out moments before the vote
The Beijing-backed electoral reforms had to be approved by Hong Kong’s legislature before they could be enacted – but pro-democracy lawmakers, who have enough seats to veto the move, voted down the reform package.
Without approval from Hong Kong lawmakers, the territory’s next chief executive will be selected, as before, by a 1,200-member committee currently stacked with Beijing loyalists.
Moments before the vote took place, pro-Beijing lawmakers, who were expected to support the package, walked out of the council chamber.
This led to confusion ahead of the vote, with some lawmakers unsure as to why others had walked out.
The 37 remaining lawmakers voted and the motion was rejected with 28 opposing it and eight supporting it. It needed at least 47 votes to pass.
Pro-Beijing lawmakers later blamed miscommunication for the walk-out, after their request for a 15-minute suspension was rejected by the Speaker.
How it all unravelled for pro-Beijing side: Juliana Liu, BBC News, Hong Kong
The outcome was expected, but the circumstances surprisingly dramatic.
When government officials gave their final speeches, it was hours ahead of schedule. Journalists scrambled to retake their seats in the main chamber at the Legislative Council.
Then a bell rang, reminding lawmakers to gather to vote. The cavernous room echoed with tension. A voiced called out, asking to halt the proceedings with just minutes to spare. The head of the council declined. Pro-government legislators walked out in protest.
One of them, Regina Ip of the New People’s Party, looked stunned after failing to vote. She said the collective action was unplanned. They had suddenly decided to wait for Lau Wong-fat, an elderly lawmaker who was said to be ill.
As a result, the controversial government reform plan failed by a wide margin.
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