China Downplays Anti-Beijing Vote in Hong Kong Elections

Beginning of article

HONG Kong's voters have given liberals a landslide victory over candidates backed by Communist China in the first direct legislative elections in the 150-year history of the British colony.

Liberals, represented by the main pro-democracy party, United Democrats of Hong Kong, and allied groups, took 16 of the 18 Legislative Council seats in Sunday's elections.

But the defeat of all pro-Beijing candidates is likely to galvanize China's opposition to calls for a broadening of direct elections in Hong Kong, which reverts to Chinese rule in 1997.

Moreover, the lower-than-expected turnout of 39 percent of Hong Kong's 1.9 million registered voters could hamper …