Expats in Hong Kong expressed high expectations on Sunday about the next-term Legislative Council, saying the LegCo election taking place that day heralded a step forward for the city's prosperity.

On the polling day of the election for the city's seventh-term LegCo, Duncan Abate, a lawyer and voter, told China Daily that the election is a real step forward for Hong Kong.

The election will help the city "move forward to become one of the greatest cities within the country and within the world, and to move away from the frozen and fractious system which we had historically," said Abate, who is also a member of the Employers' Federation of Hong Kong.

He expects LegCo to stop the city's political polarization and drive it toward prosperity.

Nury Vittachi, a Hong Kong-based veteran journalist, said the atmosphere on this polling day "is so different from the previous District Council elections, where there was a lot of tension and bad feeling."

"People are actually relieved to have a calm atmosphere," Nury said.

He added that he hopes LegCo will have more diversified voices and calmness and will be more cohesive.

William Stargel, a voter who works in the software industry, said the voting process is quite efficient.

Stargel urged voters to cast their ballots. "Everybody's voice needs to be heard, and when offered the opportunity to vote, why wouldn't you?" he said.