<span style="color: #222222;">In Hong Kong, a record number of voters have turned out for district council elections today, with security having been tightened around the city. Long lines formed outside polling stations for 452 seats in the city's 18 district councils.<br />'' <br />'' The City government said nearly a third of the record 4.13 million citizens registered to vote had cast their ballots within five hours of polls opening.<br />'' <br />'' This vote turnout is more than double the rate seen over the same time frame during the last election in 2015.<br />'' <br />'' Currently, pro-China parties hold the majority of these seats. This year's elections are widely seen as a referendum on the popularity of the city's chief executive after protest.<br />'' <br />'' Political and social unrest in Hong Kong began in June with opposition to an extradition bill with China.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Although the bill was eventually withdrawn, the protests grew into a wider movement against the city government with demands including more direct democracy and inquires into police brutality. </span>