The election of the head of the Hong Kong government, scheduled for March, will be postponed to May as the financial center of Asia fights to control the escalation of COVID-19 cases, according to what was announced today by Governor Carrie Lam.
The nomination period will be delayed until April 3-16 and the elections until May 8, she told reporters, a development that is expected to allow the new governor to take office on July 1 after Lam expires.
Carrie Lam said she had Beijing’s “consent” to the postponement, using powers based on emergency arrangements.
“I remain optimistic that we will be able to overcome this public health crisis,” Lam told reporters, adding that he did not rule out the possibility of postponing the election again if the health crisis worsens.
Quarantine facilities in Hong Kong have reached their full potential and hospital beds are 95% full as cases increase, with some patients lying in beds outdoors and in difficult conditions.
Restrictions on social and public gatherings imposed after the outbreak of the pandemic have helped the former British colony quell the sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Source: Capital
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