![Pro-democracy lawmaker and I.T. advocate Mok is surrounded by veto signs during his speech at the Legislative Council meeting in Hong Kong Pro-democracy lawmaker and I.T. advocate Mok is surrounded by veto signs during his speech at the Legislative Council meeting in Hong Kong](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/rtx1gznf.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
A controversial proposal to allow Hong Kong citizens to directly elect the city’s political leader but only from a list of up to three candidates already screened by Beijing was voted down Thursday after 10 hours of debate.
Only eight lawmakers voted in support of the proposal after pro-democracy activists and politicians deemed it a betrayal on an earlier promise to grant the Chinese Special Administrative Region “universal suffrage.” A minimum of 47 of the 70 lawmakers were needed to vote in favor of the proposal.
“I’m sad, I’m disappointed, I don’t know when democratization can be taken forward,” said Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, who favored the proposal.
Anticipating defeat, members of the pro-Beijing camp staged a surprise walkout, though due to an apparent miscommunication, it lacked the numbers to remove the necessary quorum of 30 lawmakers. In the end, 37 votes were counted.
On the mainland, state-backed media blamed the defeat on “radicals.”
Opposition to the proposal prompted hundreds of thousands to take to the streets late last year for a civil-disobedience movement that became known as the Umbrella Revolution. Large swaths of this freewheeling financial hub were paralyzed for almost three months.
As a result of the proposal’s defeat, the existing method of electing the chief executive from an electoral college of 1,200 mainly pro-Beijing representatives should now remain in place for the next ballot, slated for 2017.
The defeated proposal, which supporters characterized as a significant step toward long-promised democracy and opponents call a false approximation of free elections, spurred debate from both sides lasting from Wednesday into Thursday. Following council protocol, each representative was allowed 15 minutes to make a statement, with arguments seeming to boil down to optimism vs. skepticism. Proponents said the reforms would be a first step in a longer process of democratization, while the opposition said they would instead lead to political stagnation and increased mainland involvement in Hong Kong politics.
Legislators Fernando Cheung and Lam Cheuk-ting both said Tuesday that they would vote against the proposal. “This is not a genuine free choice,” Cheung told TIME. Lam agreed, calling the reforms a screening system for the opposition and saying they are “totally unacceptable” as well as “ridiculous and shameful.” Both lawmakers expressed concern that passing the reforms would provide the central government with plausible deniability in the promised movement toward democracy and prevent any further measures toward what they see as truly free elections.
But lawmaker Regina Ip told TIME on Wednesday she would urge her colleagues to vote in favor of the reform bill. “This is a giant step forward” for democracy, she said. “Universal suffrage is by definition a universal right to vote, and Beijing is giving us just that.”
Outside the legislative complex, in a large square divided carefully by a barrier, protesters from both sides gathered to show support for their respective causes. An organization called Citizens Against Pseudo-Universal Suffrage had organized successive evenings of discussion with intellectuals and activists in the run-up to the vote, while next door groups like the Hong Kong United Youth Association, many of whom sported matching hats and shirts, chanted slogans in support of the central government.
“The key is about law and order in Hong Kong. It has been degenerating for a few years because of a small minority in town holding a different opinion,” Gary Sum, who works in the banking sector, told TIME outside the legislative complex on Wednesday as around him people waved Chinese flags and sang traditional songs. “We should have more respect for China because we are part of the sovereign state.”
On the other side of the square, at the competing antireform rally, Edmund Choi expressed incredulity at the opinions across the barrier, saying that such reforms would not do real good for the city. “I don’t know why they come here, because if they love Hong Kong what they should do is agree with us,” he said.
Hong Kong police cited rumors that some protesters might storm the chamber during or after the vote as the cause of an increase in security at the complex, including 200 police in the chamber itself and more than 1,000 outside the complex, the South China Morning Post reported Wednesday. Tensions were running especially high after the arrest of 10 individuals in an alleged bomb plot on Monday, and Twitter users posted photos of police searching the bags of passengers in Admiralty, a nearby subway station, but no such actions ultimately took place.
In addition, Cheung and Lam said that general security had been increased the week before the vote, including a curtailed number of assistants allowed to travel with each representative. Lam, who found such security to be unnecessary, called it a “humiliation” for the assistants, some of whom have worked in the building for decades. “It’s unreasonable and disproportionate,” he said.
Although polls showed a nearly even split within Hong Kong on the matter, the reforms were ultimately voted down in a dramatic scene involving pro-reform representatives calling for a recess and then leaving without a vote.
Cheung saw the no vote as a larger statement about the limits of mainland power. “The next move is to look at how civil society can gather our momentum again,” he said. “It’s a historic vote that signifies Hong Kong being able to say no to Beijing: that even as strong, as controlling, as economically, politically, militarily dominating as China is, we as a city are able to stand up and say no.”
—With reporting from Joanna Plucinska / Hong Kong
79 Days That Shook Hong Kong
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Pro-democracy demonstrators are sprayed with pepper spray during clashes with police officers during a rally near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-17.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY A pro-democracy demonstrator gestures after police fired tear gas towards protesters near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Hong Kong Democracy Protest Riot police use tear gas against protesters after thousands of people blocked a main road at the financial central district in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-19.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Policemen rest following pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on Sept. 29, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A protester raises his arms as police officers try to disperse the crowd near the government headquarters in Hong Kong A protester raises his arms as police officers try to disperse the crowd near the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pro Democracy Supporters Attempt To Bring Hong Kong To A Stand Still With Mass Rally Protesters gather in the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 29, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Pro-democracy demonstrators hold up their mobile phones during a protest near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 29, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-09.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pro Democracy Supporters Attempt To Bring Hong Kong To A Stand Still With Mass Rally A protester sleeps on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex at sunrise on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw Protesters take part in a rally on a street outside of Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-31.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Joshua Wong, leader of the student movement, delivers a speech as protesters block the main street to the financial Central district in Hong Kong Joshua Wong, leader of the student movement, delivers a speech as protesters block the main street to the financial Central district, outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong Oct.1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Protesters react as the leader of the student movement speaks, outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong Protesters react as Joshua Wong (not pictured), leader of the student movement, speaks to the crowd outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong, Oct.1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw A protester holding an umbrella stands on the street close to the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct.1, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-30.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw A local resident breaks through police lines and attempts to reach the pro-democracy tent on Oct. 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-20.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Policemen try to get a man to let go of a fence guarded by pro-democracy demonstrators in an occupied area of Hong Kong on Oct. 3, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-24.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Protestors Take A Rest As The Pro Democracy Sit-In Goes On A pro-democracy protester sleeps on a concrete road divider on a street outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct. 5, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY The statue "Umbrella Man" by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk, is set up at a pro-democracy protest site next to the central government offices in Hong Kong on Oct. 5, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY A pro-democracy protester uses bamboo to strengthen a barricade blocking a major road in Hong Kong on Oct. 13, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Protests Continue as Students Agree to Talks Demonstrators walk past notes hanging on a wall outside the Central Government Offices in the Admiralty business district in Hong Kong on Oct. 17, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Hong Kong Democracy Protest Tents set up by pro-democracy protesters are seen in an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong's Admiralty district, Nov. 12, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-25.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pro Democracy Supporters Continue To Occupy Parts Of Hong Kong A young Hong Kong couple who did not give their names wear gas masks as they pose for a wedding photographer prior to their marriage next to the tents used by pro-deocracy demonstrators at the Admiralty protest site on Nov. 14, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Police face pro-democracy protesters on Nov. 19, 2014 outside the central government offices in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-26.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Pro-democracy activists join arms as they face off with police outside the Legislative Council building on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-21.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Police officers disperse pro-democracy protesters outside the Legislative Council building after clashes with pro-democracy activists on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-28.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Pro-democracy protesters climb up a wall as police officers disperse them outside the Legislative Council building after clashes with pro-democracy activists on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-23.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![***BESTPIX*** Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Pro-democracy activists sleep outside the Legislative Council building after protesters clashed with police on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-22.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Student Protestors Continue To Occupy Admiralty Site Police arrest a pro-democracy protester on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on Nov. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY A young student studies in a makeshift classroom set up on a main road at a major pro-democracy protest site in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Dec. 1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-29.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A demonstrator is taken away by policemen, at an area previously blocked by pro-democracy supporters, outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong A demonstrator is taken away by policemen, at an area previously blocked by pro-democracy supporters, outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Pro-democracy protesters remove signs placed up during the past two months of protests from the area around the protest camp but leave intact the notice "We are dreamers" in the Admiralty in Hong Kong on Dec. 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-27.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Hong Kong police dismantle the remains of the pro-democracy protest camp in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Dec. 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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