Hong Kong political reform package voted down as pro-Beijing lawmakers stage a walk-out

Hong Kong legislators this afternoon blocked the government electoral reform plan for the 2017 chief executive election, with only eight pro-government lawmakers voting in support of it, while 28 lawmakers voted against following 10 hours of debate. In a surprising gesture, about 30 pro-establishment lawmakers walked out of the chamber less than a minute ahead of the vote. They included the central and local governments' staunchest supporters from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Federation of Trade Unions and the Business and Professionals Alliance. They were...