19% of Hong Kong votes in first three days of democracy 'poll'

HONG KONG - More than 700,000 Hong Kong people have voted after the third day of a democracy poll that the Chinese Government says is illegal. The unofficial 10-day referendum on how to select Hong Kong’s top leader has been organised by Occupy Central with Love and Peace.

The turnout, including electronic ballots, equals about 19% of Hong Kong’s registered voters, and is more than twice the organisers’ most-optimistic forecasts of 300,000.

Since the city’s return to Chinese rule in 1997, a pro-Beijing committee has selected Hong Kong’s leader. However, Beijing originally promised some form of universal suffrage for the Chief Executive election in 2017 with the caveat that candidates must be vetted.

The poll, which runs until June 29, offers three Chief Executive election plans, all involving a popular vote. The poll is a response to a White Paper issued by Beijing earlier this month which details interpretation of the "one country, two systems" system and stresses Beijing’s control over Hong Kong.

Under the "one country, two systems" agreement, civil liberties are guaranteed only until 2047 and there is wide concern in Hong Kong that they are being steadily eroded.