HONG KONG: Election fever has hit Hong Kong as voters flocked to the polls to choose the city's lawmakers for the next four years.

It is one of the most competitive elections ever, and members of the pro-democracy camp made urgent appeals to voters as they fear losing their seats.

It was the final showdown for Hong Kong's Legislative Council elections - one last chance to win over the more than three million registered voters in the city.

Independent pro-Beijing candidate Regina Ip was up bright and early to cast her vote.

Ms Ip, Legislative Candidate, Independent, said: "Anything can happen in an election. So I cannot be 100 percent confident."

The former security secretary also competed for a legislative seat in last December's by-election, but lost to former chief secretary Anson Chan.

This time around could be her comeback moment.

Ms Ip said: "Last year's by-election was a great learning opportunity for me. It strengthened my resolve to serve the people and I learned a lot from it."

Ms Chan has decided not to run again, but she was still in the spotlight on Sunday, endorsing pan-democratic lawmaker Audrey Eu and her Civic Party running mates.

Although Ms Eu is a prominent public figure, there is a chance she may lose her seat as she is running second on her party's ticket to newcomer Tanya Chan.

Professor Joseph Cheng, Political Science, City University of Hong Kong, said: "There is a tendency for voters to look for new faces, for voters to look for changes. These are more significant trends in this election than in previous elections."

Ms Eu, Legislative Candidate, Civic Party, said: "I really think we need new blood and it's very difficult actually to find capable new blood who are prepared to run in the LegCo election, prepared to take up the work and be committed to democracy."

Competition is fierce with more than 200 candidates in the running for 60 seats - half of which are directly elected.

The other 30 seats continue to be picked by electors from professional sectors - a practice which has been accused of catering to the pro-establishment elite.

Over the past four years, the pro-Beijing camp has dominated Legislative Council, controlling 35 out of 60 seats.

However, the opposition still managed to snatch 60 percent of the directly-elected seats, and landed more than a third of the overall spots in 2004.

But pan-democrats are worried they may not make the cut this year.

When asked whether the situation is critical for the pan-democrats, Ms Chan said: "Yes it is. Because we know that the opposition has unlimited resources, a vast machinery to mobilise their voters. So it's very important everyone turns up to vote."

Analysts say voter sentiment has shifted, with the debate about universal suffrage taking a backseat to livelihood issues, a forte of the pro-Beijing camp.

This has been a hotly-contested election with a record number of candidates running. What is at stake is whether or not the pan-democratic camp can secure the 21 seats needed to block controversial constitutional amendments. - CNA/de