Last day of Hong Kong democracy poll

Hong Kong citizens voted in the final day of an unofficial referendum on democratic reform yesterday, days before a record number of people are expected at an annual pro-democracy protest.
The 10-day poll has seen voters choose how the southern Chinese city's leader should be elected, but it has enraged Beijing with state-run media describing the ballot as "an illegal farce".
More than 760,000 people have voted since the poll opened online earlier this month, as fears grow that Beijing will backtrack on its promise to allow Hong Kong universal suffrage.
Tensions are running high in the former British colony with upwards of 500,000 people expected to participate in a pro-democracy rally tomoroow, the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China.
Organisers expect this year's July 1 march to be the largest since Britain returned the Asian financial centre in 1997, with Beijing promising direct elections for the city's leader in 2017.
Hong Kong's leader is currently appointed by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee and residents are guaranteed civil liberties not enjoyed on the mainland, including free speech and the right to protest.
Turnout for the informal referendum, organised by pro-democracy activists, has exceeded expectations with some 50,000 people casting their vote at polling stations on one day alone.
"Every Chinese should have the right to vote," a 90-year-old voter, who only gave his surname as Fu, told AFP as he waited for a polling station to open outside in the Tsim Sha Tsui district yesterday morning.
"Although people can't do it in China, we can do it in Hong Kong," he added.
Another voter, William Chu, said: "We should send a strong message to the government."