China News Service, Hong Kong, August 4th Interview with Tan Yaozong: Postponing the election based on the epidemic to solve the "vacuum period" problem will be constitutional and legal
China News Agency reporter Zhang Xiaoxi
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government recently announced the postponement of the Legislative Council elections originally scheduled to be held in early September. In this regard, Tan Yaozong, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and secretary-general of the “Hong Kong Restart Alliance”, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency in Hong Kong recently that the postponement of the election is based on the current severe COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong and the health and safety of the citizens. The "vacuum period" of the Legislative Council arising from the postponement of elections is believed to be constitutionally and legally resolved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Tan Yaozong mentioned that in the past period of time, the epidemic situation in Hong Kong has continued to be severe, with three-digit single-day confirmed numbers for more than ten consecutive days. Not only the local cases involve a wide range, but the source of many cases is unknown. If the vote for the seventh Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council election is held on September 6, it will pose a great risk, especially for the elderly. He also asked the SAR government to seriously consider whether to postpone the election.
"Now that the SAR government has decided, I think it is correct and appropriate, because it is for the health and safety of the citizens." Tan Yaozong said that this year many countries and regions have postponed elections due to the epidemic, and Hong Kong is also based on this reason. The Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region invoked the "Emergency Regulations and Regulations" to postpone the election. The reasons and content also comply with the law and can withstand the challenge of judicial review.
Tan Yaozong emphasized that postponing the election is not to cancel the election, but to postpone the holding. As for the resulting "vacuum period" of the Legislative Council, he pointed out that after all, there is still a year left, and many issues still need to be dealt with by the Legislative Council, including deliberation of the SAR government’s budget. On this issue, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress After research, the final decision will be made. I believe that the solution will not be very complicated and will definitely conform to the "Constitution of the People's Republic of China" and the "Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China", as well as the original Hong Kong laws and regulations.
Regarding whether a member who has been disqualified from running for the seventh legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to serve as a member during the "vacuum period", Tan Yaozong said that there are contradictions, and how to deal with it will still be decided by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Tan Yaozong also suggested that in the future, the SAR government can consider improving the election mechanism, such as allowing electronic voting or mail voting, and setting up voting stations in major cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to make voting more convenient, fair and reasonable. For some Hong Kong people who have lived or worked in cities in the Greater Bay Area for a long time, their relationship with Hong Kong is still very close, and the relevant mechanism should cater for their needs.
During the interview, Tan Yaozong also talked about the central government's support for Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic, including the establishment of the "Mainland Nucleic Acid Testing Support Team" and the "Mainland Cabin Hospital Support Team" to assist Hong Kong. He said that these actions reflect the country's concern for Hong Kong, and he believes that the relevant work is carried out smoothly and the epidemic can be quickly controlled.
He hopes that in the future, Hong Kong and the Mainland can also strengthen exchanges and cooperation in medical care, enhance mutual understanding, and jointly protect the health of the people. (Finish)