HONG KONG (AP) — The Latest on the local elections that took place amid ongoing protest movement in Hong Kong (all times local):

2 p.m.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Hong Kong is a part of China no matter what happens in the semiautonomous territory.

Wang spoke Monday to reporters in Tokyo. He made the remarks in response to a question about Hong Kong’s district council elections in which the pro-democracy opposition appears to have swept to a resounding victory.

Wang said: “No matter what kind of things happen in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is a part of Chinese territory.”

He added: “Any attempts to destroy Hong Kong or harm Hong Kong’s stability and development cannot possibly succeed.”

Six months of protests have rocked the former British colony.

7:45 a.m.

The pro-democracy opposition appears to have swept to victory in Hong Kong elections, as a record turnout dealt a clear rebuke to city leader Carrie Lam and her handling of violent protests that have divided the Chinese territory.

Votes were still being counted Monday morning, but Hong Kong media tallied that the pro-democracy camp had easily won a majority in the vote for 452 district council seats.

The result will likely force the central government in Beijing to rethink how to handle the unrest, which is now in its sixth month.

The district councils have little power, but the vote became a referendum on the protests. The record 71 percent turnout for a Hong Kong election was slowing down the vote counting.