Hong Kong began voting on Sunday to choose new lawmakers under Beijing's "patriots only" rules, though government efforts to drive turnout have been overshadowed by the city's deadliest fire in decades.

Beijing revamped Hong Kong's electoral system in 2021 following the city's huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests, but the first contest under those rules saw a record low turnout of 30 percent.

The voter turnout just before noon Sunday stood at 10.33 percent, while the comparable figure in the last election was 9.35 percent.

Hong Kong leader John Lee again urged the public to head to the polls.

"(Your) vote represents a vote that pushes forward reform, and a vote to protect those affected by the disaster," Lee told reporters after casting his vote.

Political campaigning was

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