Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp won the overwhelming majority of the 452 council seats up for grabs

Turnout was a record 71 per cent in vote seen as referendum on pro-Beijing government's handling of protests

The councils deal with local matters but the result deals a symbolic blow to unpopular leader Carrie Lam

Councillors also have 117 representatives on a 1,200-strong panel which chooses Hong Kong's chief executive

Lam - who had claimed that a silent majority supported her - promised to 'listen humbly to citizens' opinions'

Hong Kong's pro-democracy campaign left Beijing with a bloody nose today after a landslide local election victory saw them win 90 per cent of the seats up for grabs.

Pro-democracy protesters celebrated in the streets as the results were announced by election officials, in a result that has been seen as a massive victory for the anti-government protest movement.  

The vote has been treated as a referendum on the China-backed government's handling of months of violent political unrest - and the people of Hong Kong dealt a clear rebuke to city leader Carrie Lam.

Wu Chi-wai, leader of the city's biggest pro-democracy party, said Monday that the bloc swept nearly 90% of 452 district council seats, which will help it take unprecedented control of 17 out of 18 district councils. The results were based on official tallies announced by election officials.