'Umbrella Soldiers' win seats in Hong Kong local elections

Hong Kong

HONG Kong's pro-democracy movement got a boost on Monday with about eight candidates involved in crippling protests last year winning office at district-level elections, while some veterans from both sides of the political divide suffered defeat.

The election of the so-called Umbrella Soldiers - named after the 2014 demonstrations in which activists used umbrellas to guard against tear gas and pepper spray - reflects continued support for political change in the Chinese-ruled city.

"The paratroopers are the new force," said James Sung, a political analyst at the City University of Hong Kong, referring to candidates inspired by the Umbrella movement. "The paratroopers are a new power, a challenge to the government and the central authorities in Bei…