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Photos: Young democrats sweep pro-Beijing stronghold in Hong Kong

The ongoing protests in Hong Kong have paved the way for young people to challenge the political status quo of the country. This was reflected in the elections for District Councils in November. In North Point, a region that has long been known as one of the "reddest" – or most pro-Beijing – districts in Hong Kong, pro-democracy candidates won four out of five seats, up from one in the last election. In the adjacent Fortress Hill neighbourhood, they added another two seats. Until now, pro-democracy candidates had never held more than a toehold in the district, but the protest movement has made "many people in North Point awake", said Cheng Tat-hung, 31, who has been elected to a council seat for the Civic Party.

Updated on: Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM IST

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1/18

Newly elected district councillors (from left) Lee Yue-Shun, Tat Cheng, Karrine Fu, Jason Chan, James Pui and Jocelyn Chau pose for a photo at the water front in front of the Eastern District Council building in Hong Kong, China. During elections for District Councils in November, the North Point neighbourhood that has long hewed to the pro-Beijing line of Hong Kong’s government unexpectedly switched sides. Pro-democratic candidates secured almost 90% of the seats, reports Reuters. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Newly elected district councillors (from left) Lee Yue-Shun, Tat Cheng, Karrine Fu, Jason Chan, James Pui and Jocelyn Chau pose for a photo at the water front in front of the Eastern District Council building in Hong Kong, China. During elections for District Councils in November, the North Point neighbourhood that has long hewed to the pro-Beijing line of Hong Kong’s government unexpectedly switched sides. Pro-democratic candidates secured almost 90% of the seats, reports Reuters. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

2/18

Incoming district councillors Karrine Fu and Jason Chan invite locals to write Christmas cards to protesters in detention outside Fortress Hill station near North Point, Hong Kong. “I think I have a different definition of community service, about educating people about democracy. My competitor was automatically elected for 12 years, it was a big change, especially for the elders”, said Fu, who won her Fort Street constituency in North Point by just 59 votes. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Incoming district councillors Karrine Fu and Jason Chan invite locals to write Christmas cards to protesters in detention outside Fortress Hill station near North Point, Hong Kong. “I think I have a different definition of community service, about educating people about democracy. My competitor was automatically elected for 12 years, it was a big change, especially for the elders”, said Fu, who won her Fort Street constituency in North Point by just 59 votes. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

3/18

People sit in a tram as they look at the stall of incoming district councillors Karrine Fu and Jason Chan. Chan, who won the neighbouring Fortress Hill constituency said: “We are safeguarding our autonomy. In 1997 we were guaranteed our autonomy to run our own place, special administered region. But this is always confused with the independence movement… This election is not a referendum for independence but a protest vote to work against the government.” (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

People sit in a tram as they look at the stall of incoming district councillors Karrine Fu and Jason Chan. Chan, who won the neighbouring Fortress Hill constituency said: “We are safeguarding our autonomy. In 1997 we were guaranteed our autonomy to run our own place, special administered region. But this is always confused with the independence movement… This election is not a referendum for independence but a protest vote to work against the government.” (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

4/18

Locals line up to write Christmas cards to protesters in detention and get free calendars and chocolate that are Christmas gifts from incoming district councillors Tat Cheng (3rd from left) and Lee Yue-Shun (2nd from right) at North Point. “The community is not separated by different constituencies so we have to do the work together," said Yue-Shun, who won the the Kam Ping constituency. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Locals line up to write Christmas cards to protesters in detention and get free calendars and chocolate that are Christmas gifts from incoming district councillors Tat Cheng (3rd from left) and Lee Yue-Shun (2nd from right) at North Point. “The community is not separated by different constituencies so we have to do the work together," said Yue-Shun, who won the the Kam Ping constituency. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

5/18

District councillor Tat Cheng (right) in the Tanner constituency, walks in his constituency at North Point. "What dramatically changed the environment here comes out of the social movement, starting from June. I think this social movement makes many people in North Point awake," said Cheng. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

District councillor Tat Cheng (right) in the Tanner constituency, walks in his constituency at North Point. "What dramatically changed the environment here comes out of the social movement, starting from June. I think this social movement makes many people in North Point awake," said Cheng. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

6/18

A man walks in front of a temple he has built without permission from the local council at North Point. In North Point and Fortress Hill, six of seven pro-democracy candidates - five of them in their 20s - won seats on the District Councils. Four years ago, there was only one. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

A man walks in front of a temple he has built without permission from the local council at North Point. In North Point and Fortress Hill, six of seven pro-democracy candidates - five of them in their 20s - won seats on the District Councils. Four years ago, there was only one. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

7/18

District councillor Lee Yue-Shun (right) talks with a local who built a temple without permission from the local council. "I think there are also specific challenges in each district. For me it is really hard to really get along with the Fujian community because they have a very different historical and cultural background and I take a really long time to build a network and rapport in that community. I think that is the greatest challenge for me," said Yue-Shun. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

District councillor Lee Yue-Shun (right) talks with a local who built a temple without permission from the local council. "I think there are also specific challenges in each district. For me it is really hard to really get along with the Fujian community because they have a very different historical and cultural background and I take a really long time to build a network and rapport in that community. I think that is the greatest challenge for me," said Yue-Shun. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

8/18

Incoming district councillor Karrine Fu, who won her Fort Street constituency in North Point by just 59 votes, sits in a cafe. Pro-democracy candidates won four out of five seats in the district, up from one in the last election. In the adjacent Fortress Hill neighbourhood, they added another two. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Incoming district councillor Karrine Fu, who won her Fort Street constituency in North Point by just 59 votes, sits in a cafe. Pro-democracy candidates won four out of five seats in the district, up from one in the last election. In the adjacent Fortress Hill neighbourhood, they added another two. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

9/18

Pastor David Lau poses for a photo in a church that holds services in the Minnan language that is common in Fujian, at North Point. "I can feel the tension between different groups," said Lau. "I think for some people they don't believe the government is wrong so I am challenging them to think differently." But he said he has toned down his language since July and now focuses his sermons on asking his community to "love people that you may not like." (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Pastor David Lau poses for a photo in a church that holds services in the Minnan language that is common in Fujian, at North Point. "I can feel the tension between different groups," said Lau. "I think for some people they don't believe the government is wrong so I am challenging them to think differently." But he said he has toned down his language since July and now focuses his sermons on asking his community to "love people that you may not like." (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

10/18

People cross the road outside the State Theatre Building that is slated for demolition in the North Point. One Mexican national and regular patron who has lived in North Point for years described it as "old-school'. "You know the Hong Kong of the movies, that's what North Point looks like," he said. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

People cross the road outside the State Theatre Building that is slated for demolition in the North Point. One Mexican national and regular patron who has lived in North Point for years described it as "old-school'. "You know the Hong Kong of the movies, that's what North Point looks like," he said. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

11/18

Tailors Tsang Siu Man, 78, and his brother Tsang Sik Lang, 63, work in their store underneath the State Theatre Building. Born and raised in North Point, the Tsang brothers opened their store selling handmade suits in the building in 1993. “We barely make enough to cover the rent, even though the rent is cheap, business is slow.” he said. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Tailors Tsang Siu Man, 78, and his brother Tsang Sik Lang, 63, work in their store underneath the State Theatre Building. Born and raised in North Point, the Tsang brothers opened their store selling handmade suits in the building in 1993. “We barely make enough to cover the rent, even though the rent is cheap, business is slow.” he said. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

12/18

Men play snooker in the State Theatre Building. During anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong this year, North Point was the scene of street brawls between men in white T-shirts - believed to be pro-Beijing supporters – and black-clad protesters. But the neighbourhood unexpectedly switched sides during elections to the District Council. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Men play snooker in the State Theatre Building. During anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong this year, North Point was the scene of street brawls between men in white T-shirts - believed to be pro-Beijing supporters – and black-clad protesters. But the neighbourhood unexpectedly switched sides during elections to the District Council. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

13/18

Retired sailor Michael Sham, 73, pours tea in his one-room apartment in the Model Housing Estate at North Point. “Many people at my age do not support the (protest) movement, but I do because I am a Hongkonger and I like human rights and democracy, which is something the Beijing government doesn't have," Sham said, adding that he voted for the incoming pro-democracy district councillor James Pui. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Retired sailor Michael Sham, 73, pours tea in his one-room apartment in the Model Housing Estate at North Point. “Many people at my age do not support the (protest) movement, but I do because I am a Hongkonger and I like human rights and democracy, which is something the Beijing government doesn't have," Sham said, adding that he voted for the incoming pro-democracy district councillor James Pui. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

14/18

Fish seller Lai Ji serves a customer at his stall in a fish market at North Point. "The outside has changed but everything inside is still the same, even the position of our stalls, the same for 80 years", Ji said. Asked about the protests he said: "We built everything just so they [the protesters] could destroy it all. Here in Hong Kong the elderly have a place to live, food to eat and medical care. Hong Kong is very free." (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Fish seller Lai Ji serves a customer at his stall in a fish market at North Point. "The outside has changed but everything inside is still the same, even the position of our stalls, the same for 80 years", Ji said. Asked about the protests he said: "We built everything just so they [the protesters] could destroy it all. Here in Hong Kong the elderly have a place to live, food to eat and medical care. Hong Kong is very free." (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

15/18

A woman has her hair done at the Great Chinese Barbershop, which has not changed in more than half a century according to one of its co-owners, at North Point. The newly elected councillors have formed a liberal alliance to capitalise on their gains and give political heft to the calls on the streets for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

A woman has her hair done at the Great Chinese Barbershop, which has not changed in more than half a century according to one of its co-owners, at North Point. The newly elected councillors have formed a liberal alliance to capitalise on their gains and give political heft to the calls on the streets for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

16/18

A monk shops in the Chun Yeung Street wet market at North Point. Until now, pro-democracy candidates had never held more than a toehold in the district, but the protest movement has made “many people in North Point awake”, said Cheng Tat-hung, 31, who has been elected to a council seat for the Civic Party and is studying to become a barrister. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

A monk shops in the Chun Yeung Street wet market at North Point. Until now, pro-democracy candidates had never held more than a toehold in the district, but the protest movement has made “many people in North Point awake”, said Cheng Tat-hung, 31, who has been elected to a council seat for the Civic Party and is studying to become a barrister. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

17/18

A man smokes a cigarette in an alley near the Chun Yeung Street wet market at North Point. Largely strangers months ago, the new councillors now meet regularly to discuss how they are going to shake up Hong Kong politics. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

A man smokes a cigarette in an alley near the Chun Yeung Street wet market at North Point. Largely strangers months ago, the new councillors now meet regularly to discuss how they are going to shake up Hong Kong politics. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

18/18

Lit-up buildings stand within the North Point and Fortress Hill district in Hong Kong. Once officially installed on Jan. 1, they plan to hold community “democracy forums”, lobby for rent ceilings in government apartments, and question police about alleged brutality in dealing with protesters and their response to dealing with the attacks by pro-Beijing supporters. The police have defended their actions as being necessary to break up protests that have often become violent. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 28, 2019 7:49 PM

Lit-up buildings stand within the North Point and Fortress Hill district in Hong Kong. Once officially installed on Jan. 1, they plan to hold community “democracy forums”, lobby for rent ceilings in government apartments, and question police about alleged brutality in dealing with protesters and their response to dealing with the attacks by pro-Beijing supporters. The police have defended their actions as being necessary to break up protests that have often become violent. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

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