China News Service, Hong Kong, July 31 (Reporter Zhang Xiaoxi) The Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam announced on the 31st that the election of the seventh legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be postponed until September 5 next year.
In the afternoon of the same day, Carrie Lam held a press conference in Hong Kong and said that due to the severe new crown pneumonia epidemic, he decided to postpone the election of the seventh legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The new election date is September 5, 2021, and the announcement regarding the September 6, 2020 election is withdrawn.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said that she decided to postpone the election by applying the Hong Kong law "Emergency Regulations Ordinance" and received the support of the central government. She described this as a very difficult decision. The purpose is to contain the epidemic, protect public safety and protect the health of Hong Kong citizens, while ensuring that the elections are conducted in an open and fair manner.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said that about 4.4 million registered voters, 615 polling stations, and 34,000 election staff participated in the election of the seventh legislative council, and a central counting station and media center were set up, which involved a large number of crowd gatherings and interpersonal interaction. Posing a great risk of virus infection. Under the current restrictions, a large number of registered voters who live or stay in the Mainland and overseas may not be able to return to Hong Kong to exercise their voting rights. In addition, the upper limit of the number of people gathered in public places has been tightened to two, which also makes it impossible to hold election assemblies or other usual activities.
She also pointed out that there have been a large number of cases of postponing elections overseas this year. According to statistics, at least 60 countries and regions around the world postpone elections due to the epidemic. The chairman of the Hong Kong Electoral Affairs Commission sent a letter on July 28, detailing the public health risks of the election on September 6, including the possibility that voters may not be able to maintain sufficient social distance, and elderly voters who vote for the high risk of contracting the virus.
The "Emergency Regulations Ordinance" of Hong Kong law stipulates that when the Chief Executive in Council considers an emergency or a situation that endangers public security, the Chief Executive in Council may make any regulations that he considers to be in the public interest.
Carrie Lam said that he had submitted an emergency report to the Central People's Government for support and instructions. The State Council has replied, supporting the Chief Executive in Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to postpone the election of the seventh legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for one year in accordance with the law based on public interest and actual conditions in Hong Kong.
She pointed out that the Central People's Government will request the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to make a decision on how to deal with the vacancy of the legislature under the postponement of the 7th Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall, in accordance with the law, do a good job in the work related to the postponement of the election of the seventh Legislative Council. (Finish)