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WORLD NEWS Monday 25 noveMber 2019

High turnout in Hong Kong vote seen as referendum on protest

By KEN MORITSUGU youth, who are at the fore- the protesters.
HONG KONG (AP) — Given front of the protests. Democracy activist Joshua
a chance to vote, the peo- "Younger generations Wong, who was barred
ple of Hong Kong did just might not be able to enjoy from running in the elec-
that. the rights that we are en- tion, voted soon after polls
Long lines snaked around joying now," she said as she opened at 7:30 a.m. Results
plazas and extended for waited in line to go inside a are expected after mid-
blocks as citizens of the polling station. "We cannot night.
semi-autonomous Chi- take it for granted." "Even if they censor me out
nese territory turned out in The race for 452 seats in the from the ballot, lock me out
droves Sunday for an elec- city's 18 district councils has in prison, it will just encour-
tion seen as a test of pub- taken on symbolic impor- age me to continue to fight
lic support for anti-govern- tance. A strong showing by for the future with even
ment protests that have the opposition would show stronger determination," he
persisted for more than five that the public still supports told reporters.
months. the pro-democracy move- Riot police stand outside of a polling place in Hong Kong, Sun- City leader Carrie Lam said
The Electoral Affairs Com- ment, even as the protests day, Nov. 24, 2019. after voting that organizing
mission said 31% of the city's have become increasingly Associated Press the election was extremely
4.1 million registered vot- violent. challenging because of
ers cast ballots in the first The vote for the district partly by popular vote and of the central government the unrest.
five hours, up from 14.5% in councils, which advise the partly by interest groups in Beijing. "But I'm pleased to say that
the same period four years government on issues of lo- representing different sec- The ruling camp in Hong ... we should have a rela-
ago. cal concern, are the only tors of society, and the Kong and the government tively peaceful and calm
Christina Li said that it was fully democratic elections city's leader is picked by a in Beijing hope that the un- environment to conduct
important for older people in Hong Kong. Members of 1,200-member body that is rest and disruption to daily these elections successful-
like herself to support the the legislature are chosen dominated by supporters life will turn voters against ly," she said.q

26 killed as small plane crashes into homes in Congo

GOMA, Congo (AP) — A province, according to the bers and seven residents
small plane crashed into government. of the homes, the Ministry
homes shortly after takeoff Black smoke rose from the of Transportation said after
Sunday in Congo's east- plane wreckage and de- collecting information from
ern city of Goma, killing stroyed homes as dozens other government depart-
26 people, including the of men tried to help with ments.
aircraft's passengers and rescue efforts. The smoke Placide Kambale, a local
crew, as well as residents cleared as the men carried pilot, said he rushed to the
on the ground, the govern- bodies on stretchers and scene to help out and saw
ment of the central African hundreds gathered at the that the plane was on fire.
nation said. site. "I called other young peo-
The 19-seat Dornier 228- Although the National Bor- ple from the neighbor-
200, owned by private car- der Health Program initially hood. They helped me to
rier Busy Bee, was headed said there were two survi- try to remove those who
to Beni, about 350 kilome- vors from the plane, includ- still moved," he said. "We
ters (220 miles) north of ing a crew member, the have managed to recover Rescuers and onlookers gather amidst the debris of an aircraft
Goma, when it crashed in provisional death toll was two that was quickly sent to operated by private carrier Busy Bee which crashed in Goma,
the Mapendo district near later put at 26 — 17 pas- the hospital" before the fire Congo Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019.
the airport in the North Kivu sengers, two crew mem- spread.q Associated Press