<span style="color: #222222;">Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has said the government will listen to the public with an open mind, after pro-Beijing candidates were resoundingly defeated in local elections. According to local media counts, the pro-democracy parties took 390 of 452 district council seats (nearly 90 per cent). </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The election saw an unprecedented voter turnout of more than 71%. The result is being seen as a stinging rebuke of Ms Lam's leadership through many months of protest and clashes. In a statement released online this morning, Ms Lam said the government respected the results.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">For nearly six months demonstrations and unrest have continued unabated – they were sparked by a now withdrawn extradition bill. The protest movement has several key demands including direct popular elections and a probe into alleged police brutality. </span><br />