Hong Kong's voters turned out in unprecedented numbers Sunday for local council elections that the city's pro-democracy movement hopes will pile pressure on the Beijing-backed government to listen to their demands after months of violent protest.

Long queues snaked out of polling stations across the territory in the election for 18 district councils, where the record turnout is expected to benefit democratic forces.

The Electoral Affairs Commission said a record of about 71 percent of the 4.13 million citizens registered to vote had cast their ballots across Sunday as the count began.

It was the highest turnout in Hong Kong's history of district council elections since they were established following the handover from British rule in 1997.

The selection of 452 councillors - handling community-level concerns such as bus routes and garbage collection - traditionally generates little excitement, but has taken on new significance following months of political unrest.