In clinching a famous set of victories at the Hong Kong elections, the pro-democracy camp retained its veto power in the 70-seat council, despite warnings from China's government.
It was a heated, passionate and, at times, turbulent election that drew a record turnout across Hong Kong, forcing some polling stations to remain open well into the night.
There were emotional scenes as the historic results were announced, with former pan-democratic candidates in tears as the new guard prepared to carry on.
A new force in local politics was confirmed, with young anti-Chinese activists and democrats clinching a number of key seats.
"It shows how Hong Kong people wanted to change.”
The vote was the region's first major election since the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests, led by pro-democracy advocates pushing for greater political freedom.
Protest leader Nathan Law, 23, was in court last month for his part in the mass 'occupy' movement that blocked roads for 79 days.
The student has now been elected a legislative councillor for the Hong Kong constituency for his pro-democracy party Demosisto.
After capturing a seat with more than 50,000 votes, he will become the council's youngest-ever legislator.
"It shows how Hong Kong people wanted to change,” Mr Law said.
“And, actually, we (stuck with) the democratic movement, and people are voting for a new way and new future of our democratic movement. I believe that every single person who voted for me made that history.
“I am willing to share with them in the following four years and in the future."
The pro-democracy candidates needed to secure at least 24 of the 70 total seats to be able to block government attempts to pass legislation.
That includes a Chinese government-backed revamp of how Hong Kong's leader is chosen, the bill which, in fact, sparked the 2014 Umbrella Movement.
Prior to the vote, senior administration figures in both Hong Kong and Beijing had warned against supporting a candidate linked with independence.
But political analyst Joseph Cheng has told Al Jazeera that, as the results came in, it became clear many had ignored that warning.
"The victory of up to five pro-independence candidates also reveals that a lot of Hong Kong people are willing to support these candidates, although they may not agree with their political position entirely," Mr Cheng explained.
The new group of six legislators was enough to ensure veto powers were retained, and it also kept a simple majority among the 35 directly elected, geographically based seats.
Yau Wai Ching, 25, won one of the two seats claimed by her party, Youngspiration.
Both seat victories were unexpected.
Youngspiration was formed during the 2014 protests and Ms Yau said the party proposed a similar plan to Demosisto.
"They want to give some chance to some new faces, let them go into the council and do something for our Hong Kong people," she said.
Eddie Chu Hoi-dick is a veteran social activist and, now, winner of a seat in the New Territories West constituency.
Student Nathan Law, center, who helped lead the 2014 protests, celebrates after winning a seat at the legislative council elections in Hong Kong (AAP) Source: AAP
He told reporters that bringing greater democracy to Hong Kong would be his priority.
"I hope to renew the democratic movement of Hong Kong from following tightly the Basic Law into a self-determination movement. That is my political goal in Hong Kong," he said.
It is a goal many pro-establishment politicians are unhappy about.
That includes candidate Elizabeth Quat, who said she hoped the incoming legislators prove ineffectual.
"I really hope that they will not bring independence, Hong Kong independence, into LegCo,” Ms Quat said.
“Hong Kong's success is really based on 'One Country, Two Systems'. Independence is not realistic at all. So, hopefully, this will not, you know, be their main objective in LegCo."
The Labour Party's Lee Cheuk-Yan was ousted from his New Territories West seat after more than 20 years.
He has called for a united Hong Kong, regardless of the results.
"Everyone needs to cooperate. All political parties that are trying to fight for democracy in Hong Kong have to cooperate in the future, because, you know, just having a very fragmented movement, we are all weakened,” he said.
“And, actually, this particular election is a fragmentation. And so I think we need to cooperate and need to think of a new strategy to fight for Hong Kong's future."
With Reuters, APTN and Al Jazeera
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