For months, millions of Hong Kongers have taken to the streets in defence of their unique political freedoms, clamouring for greater democratic reforms while waging street battles with the city's increasingly brutal police forces.

On Sunday, they delivered the same message in a different format: the ballot box. Backed by record voter turnout, pro-democracy politicians swept Hong Kong's local district elections, seizing control of more than 80 percent of the contested seats. The verdict was unmistakable and another stinging riposte to China's authoritarian leadership in Beijing.

Washington Post