In Hong Kong’s district council elections on November 24, 2.9 million people out of an electorate of 4.1 million voted, with 41 per cent voting for pro-government candidates and 4 per cent for independents. In total, 1.2 million people did not vote. Some may have been put off voting because of fears of retribution – doxxing , having their businesses targeted, being beaten up or set on fire . That fear was unidirectional: people who support the government feared those who support the protests. So if there is any bias, it would be that the district council elections under-represented the pro-government or pro-independent vote. I voted independent, because that candidate was the only one in my area challenging the Civic Party , which is deeply implicated in the protests. I would have voted for anyone against the Civic Party candidate, including a pro-government candidate. The anti-government forces won in 17 out of 18 districts, because of the first-past-the-post system. Whether that is a “ landslide ”, as many in the media term it, is questionable, given that the share of the popular vote was 55 per cent for the pan-democrats against 41 per cent for the pro-establishment camp. Nevertheless, we can reasonably infer that very nearly half of our population is not in favour of constant demonstrations and the trashing of our dear city. If we are not the silent majority , we are certainly the silent very large minority. And we ought to be less silent. Peter Forsythe, Discovery Bay A politicised Hong Kong is the new normal Hongkongers of all ages showed at the district council elections that we are fed up with the status quo and want change in our city. In a landslide victory, 392 pro-democracy candidates were elected, while their pro-establishment rivals had to settle for just 60 out of 452 seats. The traditionally uneventful district council polls turned into a de facto referendum over political leanings or a battle of conscience. I view this election as Hongkongers peacefully expressing their views as the government has repeatedly exhorted them to do. It was surprising to see many new faces participating, and winning, in this election. The recent social movement seems to have wrought a great political change with more young people engaged in politics, and thus being heard in the corridors of power. Carrie Lam under pressure to come up with answers as Beijing visit looms Some experts believe the pro-democracy camp’s landslide victory in the recent elections was a fluke and the result of the social movement that has continued for six months . They believe voters were simply expressing their dissatisfaction with the government rather than fighting for freedom and democracy. Regardless of people’s intentions when voting, it is obvious that the government’s performance in the recent past has fallen short of Hongkongers’ expectations. People of all ages and the middle class are furious with the government. The district council election results must push the government to take concrete action, instead of merely talking about introspection. Crystal Xu, Kwai Chung