Hongkongers living in Australia are believed to have returned to the city en masse to cast votes in last week's local elections, which resulted in a landslide victory for pro-democracy candidates.

Key points: Up to 30,000 Hongkongers living abroad may have travelled home to vote

Up to 30,000 Hongkongers living abroad may have travelled home to vote Pro-democracy leaders will meet with Australian politicians next week

Pro-democracy leaders will meet with Australian politicians next week Pro-democracy advocates believe the local election wins will give the group more resources

Eric Lai, vice-convenor of the Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front, is currently in Australia and plans to meet with members of Parliament next week alongside two other pro-democracy political leaders.

Mr Lai's organisation has played a key role in orchestrating some of the largest protests in Hong Kong and he told the ABC the election results were a show of support for demonstrators.

"Nearly 60 per cent of the population support the pro-democracy camp, which means they support the protests, and it makes the Government and also the pro-government parties speechless," he said.

"They thought there was this silent majority who supports their approach to stopping the violence, by creating more violence by the police.

"But now the result is clear, that people want the Government to make concessions."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 52 seconds 52 s Hong Kong protesters shoot arrows and hurl petrol bombs at police from a barricaded university

Mr Lai said he expected members of Hong Kong's police force would also be reflecting on the election outcome.

Authorities are today combing through the wrecked Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which became the site of a two-week siege after violent protests that saw police blockade the campus.

"Even the police may realise they are not on the side of the majority and they are in the minority now," he said.

One of the protest movement's core demands is the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into the police's use of force, and Mr Lai said he was also concerned by rape and sexual assault allegations made against officers.

Pro-democracy supporters say the election result should be a wake-up call for police. ( Reuters: Kim Kyung-Hoon )

"These actions are a crime. The police commit crimes without consequences because nobody holds them accountable," he said.

"Without the Government taking charge wounds won't heal without justice."

Australians voted to 'show support and solidarity'

The elections had a high voter turnout, driven in part by overseas Hongkongers returning home. ( AP: Ng Han Guan )

Hong Kong media reported up to 30,000 Hongkongers from around the world travelled back home to vote in the elections.

Mr Lai said he believed this effort from the wider diaspora helped increase voter turnout for the poll.

"I have talked to many people in Australia who are Hong Kong residents as well, and they went back home to vote and also show support and solidarity," he said.

Melbourne University student Simon, who holds dual citizenship in both Australian and Hong Kong, was one of those who returned for the election.



He told the ABC he made the decision to travel back in October and served as a public observer during the vote-counting process.

The result came to him as a shock — especially the volume of seats won by pro-democracy candidates.

"The result shows that the movement still has very strong support from Hongkongers, even after almost six months of unrest," he said.

He said he believed the election was important as winning district council seats has provided the pro-democracy camp with vital resources.

The elections were seen by some as a sort of referendum on the protest movement. ( AP: Kin Cheung )

"As it stands, a lot of pro-democracy candidates vowed to employ arrested protesters as staffers if they get elected," he said.

"It proves that the majority of Hongkongers value democracy and human dignity and will continue to resist Beijing's encroaching authoritarianism."