Hong Kong elections: Western concern after pro-Beijing candidates sweep board

China has rejected Western claims that democracy is under threat in Hong Kong, after pro-Beijing candidates swept the board in the weekend’s legislative elections.

China’s ambassador to Australia accused Western nations of trying to meddle in its internal affairs and “reversing the truth” about the elections.

Turnout fell to a historic low in the vote, the first since China imposed new electoral rules which only allow candidates described as “patriots” to run Hong Kong.