sentences:  In 2019, when the democratic movement became increasingly violent, the Carrie Lam administration and Beijing authorities appealed to the "silent majority" to dissociate themselves from the radical activists and to vote for the pro-government camp in the District Council elections, which were seen as a "de facto" referendum on the protests.However, with a record turnout of over 70%, the pro-democracy camp won 80% of overall seats and controlled 17 out of the 18 District Councils.A commentator of The "New Statesman" deduced that Hong Kong's true silent majority stood on the side of the democratic cause.