How an Ill Lawmaker Led to Landslide Defeat for Hong Kong Vote

After nine months of division in Hong Kong that saw protesters clash with police, the city’s decision on whether to accept a China-backed plan for picking its chief executive ended with 28 lawmakers voting against and 8 for.

A widely expected narrow defeat of the plan in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council became a blowout when a 78-year old lawmaker in favor of the proposal fell ill and his compatriots walked out in a failed bid to delay the ballot. While the incident wouldn’t have made a difference since the 28 opposing votes put the two-thirds majority needed for the plan past reach, it does mean records will show an overwhelming rejection.