Hong Kong Democrats Close Ranks on China-Backed Vote Plan
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Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers vowed to vote down a China-backed plan for the city’s first direct leadership election as the proposal neared a pivotal ballot in the legislature.
After almost nine hours of a debate that began Wednesday, none of the Legislative Council’s 27 pan-democratic lawmakers expressed support for the government’s proposal for the citywide election in 2017. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying needs at least four votes from opposition lawmakers, who criticize provisions requiring candidate-screening by a panel of elites -- many loyal to the Chinese government in Beijing.