Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, center, announces to postpone legislative elections scheduled for Sept. 6, citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak during a press conference in Hong Kong, Friday, July 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:28 AM PT — Friday, July 31, 2020
Hong Kong has suspended its assembly election by a year amid a rise in coronavirus cases. Leader Carrie Lam announced the delay on Friday, postponing an opportunity for pro-democracy opposition leaders to win a majority in the assembly by a full year.
This comes in the wake of China’s controversial new laws, which are expected to stop even more pro-democracy opposition party members from being on the assembly.
“The state council replied and expressed support for the decision made by the chief executive and the council, in accordance with the law, to postpone the election of the seventh legislative council by one year on the ground of public interest,” stated Lam. “In terms of how we should deal with the one year postponement and vacuum of the legislative body, the Central People’s Government will submit the matter to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for a decision.”
BREAKING: Hong Kong will delay the Legislative Council election due to coronavirus concerns, chief executive Carrie Lam announces pic.twitter.com/850pGeyYNz
— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) July 31, 2020
In the meantime, it will be up to China’s parliament to decide how to fill the legislative power left in the yearlong election delay.
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