This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
Published on November 23, 2019, Hong Kong's streets have been relatively calm in the lead-up to Sunday's district polls, a rare respite from nearly six months of intense political unrest.
With concerns that violence could lead to a delay in the polls, first-time voters have been advised online to avoid spoiling their ballots, while protest forums have urged citizens to cast their votes in an orderly manner.
Pro-democracy users on the popular board LiHKG have urged supporters to go to polling stations early and not to jeopardise the election.
On Sunday, polls will open in the semi-autonomous city of 7.5 million, where voters will choose 452 councillors across 18 districts.
While the district council polls have historically generated little passion, with candidates often aligned with the China-backed government, this year's election is seen as a crucial test of the pro-democracy movement's strength.
With nearly 400,000 new voters registered, which is widely interpreted as a positive sign for the pro-democracy camp, political analysts expect pro-democracy candidates to make gains in the district councils, but to still fall short of a majority of the 452 slots.
Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung has called on citizens to let the polls proceed smoothly, warning that massive chaos or unlawful deeds could make it difficult to hold a fair election.
"It's a real democratic exercise. I really want people to treasure it," Cheung said.
Protester Chow Pak-kwan, a 21-year-old who lost a kidney and part of his liver after being shot by a traffic police officer earlier this month, echoed the calls for peaceful elections.
"I hope Hong Kong people can cast their votes to earn more democracy in a peaceful way," Chow Pak-kwan said. "Every vote matters."
