State media report on HK polls, but avoid results

Mainland media have reported there was a record turnout for Hong Kong's polls. But there's been no mention of the winners. File photo: AFP

State media on the mainland informed their readers on Monday that all the votes in Hong Kong's district council elections had been counted – but there was not a word on any of the results, let alone the pro-Beijing side's devastating losses.



Xinhua News Agency noted that 452 seats were up for grabs and that they "have all been decided". But no individual or overall results got a mention.



An agency story, with the headline "HKSAR completes sixth-term district council election", claimed that "some rioters harassed patriotic candidates" on Sunday – without elaborating.



"The district council election is the first poll held in the HKSAR after the now-withdrawn ordinance amendments concerning fugitives' transfers sparked unrest in Hong Kong," Xinhua said.



"In the past more than five months, rioters, in concert with external forces, have continuously committed and escalated violence, resulting in social and political confrontation, rift in social sentiment and setbacks in economy and people's livelihood. Months of social unrest has seriously disrupted the electoral process."



Meanwhile, the People's Daily reported via social media that almost three million people voted on Sunday, expanding its story by noting there was a record turnout.



Broadcaster CCTV also had nothing to say about the outcome of the elections, which saw the pro-democracy side take around 390 of the 452 seats.



The state media outlets did report, however, that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had said in Tokyo that no matter how Hong Kong changes, it is still "crystal clear" that the city belongs to China.