Residents in Hong Kong head to the polls Sunday in a citywide legislative election after the ruling party made an abrupt about face on the hot-button issue of education reform.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced late Saturday he would roll back a controversial education curriculum in order to quell mass protests taking place the days before.

The education program-- comprised of mandatory patriotism classes-- were criticised as Communist Party-style propaganda aimed at indoctrinating young children.

After casting his ballot Sunday, Leung said his decision to leave the classes up to individual schools should help satisfy public opinion.

(SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LEUNG CHUN-YING, SAYING:

"The policy changes that I announced yesterday on the Moral and National Education curriculum were proposed after we listened to the opinions of various education groups. I believe the new policy can satisfy various opinions and has gained the biggest consensus."

A number of controversies have dealt a blow to the pro-Beijing Leung and may prove beneficial to pro-democracy candidates when elections results are tallied.