A banner held by a pro-democracy demonstrator outside LegCo last night. (Photo: Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media)
Pro-democracy lawmakers vetoed the Beijing-backed political reform bill at roughly 12:35pm today, with 28 casting votes against it.
Most pro-Beijing lawmakers walked out of the hall as the vote was taking place, with only eight pro-government LegCo members casting votes, reports the AFP.
The pro-democracy lawmakers held up a yellow umbrella inside the LegCo hall in celebration of their desired outcome:
Outside the LegCo complex, pro-democracy protesters cheered:
Meanwhile, many are puzzled as to why pro-establishment lawmakers chose to walk out when they could have cast a vote in favour of the proposal. Some are saying that they were delaying the vote in order to wait for the arrival of lawmaker Lau Wong-fat, who was late.
With the Beijing-backed political reform package out of the picture for now, no one knows with certainty what will happen next.
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