HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kongers head to the polls Sunday to choose candidates for the semiautonomous city’s legislature, in the first major election since 2014’s pro-democracy street protests. That movement drew world attention to the former British colony’s struggle over stunted democratic development under Chinese rule and paved the way for a burgeoning independence movement that’s complicating the upcoming vote. Here’s a look at the issues:
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NEW WAVE:
Candidates from a new wave of activist groups that emerged in the wake of the student-led “Umbrella” or “Occupy” movement are challenging established pro-Beijing and “pan-democrat” parties for seats in the Legislative Council, or Legco. With the nonviolent 2014 protests failing to yield any concessions from Beijing over its plan to restrict elections for the city’s top leader, many activists support more confrontational tactics and radical action. In all, 214 candidates are running for 35 seats.
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