The deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades is piling pressure on Beijing’s “patriots-only” governance system, casting a shadow on elections widely seen as a further step to tighten control over the city's legislature.

Sunday's vote to elect new lawmakers to Hong Kong's 90-member Legislative Council comes just 11 days after a massive fire engulfed seven towers in a high-rise apartment complex, killing at least 159 people in the financial hub's worst blaze since 1948.

With many voters in the city grown politically apathetic since China’s crackdown shut out the pro-democracy camp in recent years, Sunday's turnout rate will be a key barometer of public sentiment toward the government and its handling of the fire.

While there hasn’t yet been significant public protests because of the chilling effect of a wide-ranging security crackdown that started five years ago, some residents have raised concerns among friends, on social media and to reporters about government oversight in building maintenance projects and official investigation efforts.

Nearly 40% of incumbents, including household names and mildly vocal politicians, are stepping aside for this election.

More candidates with mainland Chinese business links, as well as more members of China’s parliament, are joining the race.

Observers suggest the candidate line-up signals Beijing’s tightening control over even its loyalists and a preference for politicians more in tune with its agenda.

AP video shot by: Ayaka McGill, Alice Fung and Rafael Wober