HONG KONG – Over 3.7 million Hong Kongers go to the polls Sunday in the semi-autonomous city’s closest thing to a fully democratic vote, as stark political divisions widen.

With fears growing that Beijing is tightening its grip, some young activists are campaigning for a complete break from China. On the other side, pro-establishment parties warn they are risking the stability and prosperity of the finance hub.

Here are five key points on Legislative Council vote:

What’s so important about this election?

The election for members of Hong Kong’s lawmaking body is the biggest public poll since the mass “Umbrella Movement” pro-democracy rallies of 2014, when Beijing and the city’s government brushed aside calls for political reforms.

It is the first time that young activists calling for independence for Hong Kong have stood in the vote.

Polls show that one or two of them could win seats – which would be a landmark for the fledgling movement.

Hong Kong elections 2016

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AFP

How does the vote work?

Half the council’s 70 members will be directly voted by the public on Sunday and represent geographical constituencies. Pro-democracy candidates tend to fare well in these seats.

However, 30 other members are appointed by special interest groups, including transport, tourism and business sectors – who tend to be pro-Beijing.

The remaining five “super seats” are not attached to any constituency and will be on the ballot paper for all residents, except for those who have voted as part of the special interest groups.

So, is Hong Kong really democratic?

A British colony for over 150 years until it was handed back to China in 1997, and semi-autonomous since then, Hong Kong has never experienced full democracy.

The system of having 30 members of the Legislative Council appointed by pro-Beijing special interest groups makes it almost impossible for the democratic camp to take a majority in the legislature.

Currently, pan-democratic lawmakers hold 27 of the Legco’s 70 seats, enabling them to block bills.

But if they drop just four seats on Sunday, they will lose that veto power.

What does the city’s parliament do?

The traditional role of the Legislative Council is to introduce, examine, and approve bills, budgets and expenditures.

But frustrated pro-democracy lawmakers have long turned to filibustering to disrupt proceedings, delaying the passage of multiple bills.

Much of the previous council session was deadlocked, with the pro-establishment camp accusing the opposition of blocking progress and democrats slamming pro-government legislators as yes-men.

What is Beijing’s take on the vote?

Central Chinese authorities say pro-independence candidates are acting illegally, going against the city’s mini-constitution, and Beijing is likely to keep up pressure on the breakaway camp.

Some strident pro-independence activists have been banned from standing in Sunday’s election and the Hong Kong government has warned action may be taken against those who have advocated independence while campaigning.

However, if new young candidates draw support away from more established pro-democracy parties, it could work in Beijing’s favour, splitting the vote and giving more seats to pro-establishment candidates.

Hong Kong – Hong Kong goes to the polls Sunday in an election which for the first time sees young independence activists calling for a complete break from China running for office.

The vote for members of the Legislative Council – Hong Kong’s lawmaking body – is the most important election since major pro-democracy rallies brought parts of the semi-autonomous city to a standstill in 2014, calling for political reforms.

Polls opened early Sunday morning and will close at 10:30 pm (0230 GMT) with vote counting taking place overnight.

The election comes as some in Hong Kong grow increasingly concerned that Beijing is tightening its grip in a range of areas, from politics to media and education.

Those fears were exacerbated when five Hong Kong booksellers known for salacious titles about leading Beijing politicians disappeared at the end of last year, resurfacing in detention on the mainland.

That fuelled the fire of the “localist” movement, which grew out of the failure of the 2014 rallies to win concessions on political reform from Beijing and is seeking much more distance from China.

Now some young campaigners are demanding outright independence, others the chance for Hong Kong to determine its own future in a referendum.

The more strident independence activists – slammed by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities as acting illegally by promoting the breakaway – were banned by the government from running in Sunday’s election, a move which sparked outrage over political censorship.

Victory for the handful who are standing would be a massive coup for the nascent movement, and polls predict some will win seats.

But with their numbers still small, it would not tip the balance of a legislature whose framework is skewed towards the establishment.

The election is only partially democratic and it is almost impossible for the anti-Beijing camp ever to gain a majority.

While 40 of the Legislative Council’s 70 members will be directly elected by the public on Sunday, 30 will be selected by small voting blocs from special interest groups representing a range of businesses and social sectors. Those seats always go predominantly to pro-Beijing candidates.

What the pro-democracy camp wants to ensure is that it holds on to enough seats to block important bills, which need to be voted through by a two thirds majority.

The loss of just four seats would mean that veto power slips away, leaving a legislature where the odds are stacked even more in Beijing’s favour.

The momentum behind new young activists could draw support away from more established pro-democracy parties, splitting the vote.

On the eve of the election, five democrats dropped out of campaigning in a bid to consolidate voting behind those candidates with the best chance of winning.

As divisions become increasingly entrenched, wrangling between the pro-establishment and democracy camps has led to a Legislative Council often hamstrung by filibustering and point-scoring.

In a city where poor housing and low salaries are serious concerns, many frustrated residents say it is now time to put politics aside and focus on struggling communities.