Chinese lawmakers have extended the term of the Hong Kong governing body by a year following a controversial decision last month to postpone local elections in the international finance hub over the coronavirus pandemic.
Carrie Lam, Hungarian leader of Hong Kong, said in late July that local election plans would be postponed to September 6, with an increase in COVID-19 infections. The move angry pro-Democrat supporters claiming the pandemic was used as a pretext to intimidate the people the semi-autonomous territory of voices.
Beijing’s top legislature, the National People’s Association for People’s Congress, convened a sixth of four days on Saturday to discuss whether to extend Hong Kong’s term Legislative Council (LegCo), which will expire on September 30, or appoint a new “transitional body” to deal with a potential political vacuum.
On Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the commission had decided LegCo would continue his duties “not less than one year” until the term of the next council begins. The decision was apparently adopted unanimously – although the fate of several opposition lawmakers was excluded from seeking re-election remains unclear.
The resolution to extend LegCo’s term did not mention how the 70 introduced legislators will be treated.
Last month, Hong Kong authorities announced that 12 potential candidates, including four sitting legislators, had been barred from standing in the upcoming elections. They were shot dead for having unacceptable political views, such as campaigning to block legislation by winning a majority, or criticizing a new national security law that Beijing had imposed on its territory by the end of June.
LegCo President Andrew Leung said the disqualification of the four legislators would apply to the next term, not the extended one.
“What is not mentioned in the resolution should be addressed by the government in Hong Kong,” Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole representative in China’s top decision – making body, told AFP news agency.
He dismissed concerns that the resolution would technically allow the Hong Kong legislature, which is dominated by Beijing loyalists, to work in unrestricted expansion instead of reshuffling members through elections.
In Hong Kong, pro-democracy lawmakers reiterated their opposition to the postponement of the elections, arguing that the vacuum was “fabricated” and that submission to the National People’s Congress was “unnecessary”, replacing Hong Kong’s constitutional system.
“About 4.5 million voters’ rights to vote regularly have been taken away. The Legislative Council … will no longer be authorized by the people,” they said in a statement.
But the Hong Kong Liaison Office of Beijing said the Standing Committee’s decision was in line with the constitution and constitution.
The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao bureau called the decision “important and timely”, while Lam said the move would ensure the city’s regular administration and operations.
The exhibition has been criticized by the United States and other countries, many of whom have suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
.
