'Threats from the powerful did not deter tens of thousands of citizens from coming out and casting a ballot.'
China has described a primary by Hong Kong's pro-democracy parties as a"serious provocation", warning that some campaigning may have breached a tough new security law it imposed on the city.
Control could give them a greater ability to stall budgets and legislation, one of the few tactics left open to the opposition camp. "The goal of the Benny Tai gang and the opposition camp is to seize power to govern Hong Kong, with a vain attempt to launch a Hong Kong version of a colour revolution," the office said.
It targets subversion, sedition, terrorism and foreign collusion with penalties of up to life in prison.
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