Pro-democracy candidate Anson Chan has won a seat in Hong Kong's legislature, defeating Regina Ip, who was supported by the Beijing-allied parties, AP reported. In the election, billed by the press as a referendum on democracy in Hong Kong, Chan – dubbed "Hong Kong's conscience" for her strong advocation of civil liberties – won with 54.6% of the vote. She also has said that she wants all members of Hong Kong's legislature to be popularly elected by 2012, as opposed to the current system in which half are elected by the population. The contested seat had been vacated by a legislator who died in office.