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HONG KONG : Political history was made in Hong Kong on Friday, as lawmakers passed political reforms that fell short of the universal suffrage demanded by some.
The vote has split the pro-democracy camp, with angry protesters accusing the Democratic Party of betrayal.
Police were on standby to prevent protesters from storming the Legislative Council building when voting was underway.
And after 26 hours of debate, lawmakers passed the package with 46 'yes' votes.
It was comfortably above the two-thirds majority support needed to pass.
And Hong Kong's leader called it a triumph.
"The vote today is both an end and a beginning. Hong Kong will no longer be the same. More people will join us on this journey to democracy and to the promised land of universal suffrage," said Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang.
He met supporters in a surprise appearance, chanting the government's campaign slogan.
On the other side of the building, opponents mourned what they saw as a betrayal.
"We can see the members of Democratic Party didn't follow their promise. So I think the supporters, including myself will also feel disappointed by their decision," said one protester.
The package was certain to pass as the government made a last-minute change to win over the Democratic Party, which holds the swing vote.
It agreed to add 10 directly elected seats to the legislature for the elections in 2012 - up from five in the original proposal. This means 40 out of the 70 seats in the legislature will be directly-elected, with the remaining chosen by special interest groups.
The committee which elects the chief executive will also expand from 800 to 1200.
Some hardline pan-democrats accused the Democratic Party of compromising its fight for universal suffrage in 2012, which the party denies.
"If we keep on vetoing the political package, then it means the political scene in Hong Kong will be maintained at status quo. We will be kept at a stage of political stagnation," said Albert Ho, chairman of the Democratic Party.
Even as the political reform saga drew to a close more conflict is expected ahead, as Hong Kong still has a long way to go to achieve full democracy. - CNA /ls
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