Hong Kong’s democracy movement has gained a big electoral boost

AFTER NEARLY six months of unrest in Hong Kong, involving increasingly violent protests, vandalism and transport chaos, the government had reason to hope that public opinion might have turned against the demonstrators. No such luck. Instead, voters handed a stunning victory to pro-democracy candidates in district elections on November 24th. The message was plain: for all the recent mayhem, Hong Kongers strongly dislike their government and its backers in Beijing. The result was a strong endorsement of the protesters’ campaign for political freedoms.

Ostensibly the election was merely about picking 450-odd representatives to district councils—bodies that recommend policies relating to humdrum local problems. This time, however, the turnout was huge—a record, indeed, for any kind of election in Hong Kong that involves a public vote. Nearly 3m voters—more than 71% of those registered—took part, up from 47% four years ago (some are pictured queuing). After casting her own ballot, Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, dismissed the idea that this was a vote of confidence in her leadership. Perhaps she had sensed the approaching electoral avalanche. Pro-democracy politicians won almost 90% of the seats and took control of 17 of the 18 councils. Previously they had dominated none of them.

Mrs Lam has promised to “seriously...