Hong Kong Government Cites Pandemic to Postpone Elections

Friday 6pm, Lam announces Legco elections are postponed

Word came down late this morning that the Hong Kong government would postpone the September 6 Legislative Council elections because of the ongoing pandemic.

We had to wait until 6pm in a press conference where Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was again flanked by some of her senior ministers, including the Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, and Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

Hongkongers can't exercise their right to vote

Before making the actual announcement, Lam laid out a string of reasons why the elections had to be postponed. First and foremost, this was the 10th day that the city had triple digit new cases (121 today) and with just over a month away it would be "irresponsible" to hold the elections now; that there were many Hongkongers who lived and worked across the border who would have to rush here to vote on that day; elderly people's health would be compromised, and some wouldn't dare come out to vote; tens of thousands of workers would be needed to man all the polling stations and it would be hard to make sure people maintained social distancing and so on.

Finally Lam said the election would be held on September 5, 2021, while Cheng claimed that even those 12 pan-democrat candidates who were disqualified yesterday would be able to put in their nomination again next year.

Does Lam take Hongkongers as fools?

No matter which political stripe they are, people want to exercise their right to vote and now this has been taken away from them. Perhaps the only good thing is that between now and next September who has become eligible to vote can now register.

There were questions about why the government didn't consider holding the election anyway like Singapore did recently, but Lam claimed it was a different situation, and cited over 60 countries like the UK where the London mayoral race was postponed.

Law wonders what his "crime" is

A reporter said since Hong Kong is such a tech hub, why couldn't we vote online or by mail? And why hadn't the government considered these options, as it has been seven months now. Again Lam claimed there wasn't enough time to organize all of this in time.

Another asked if this was because the government was worried the pan-democrats would win more seats and wanted to shut down their chances, Lam stressed this decision was not political at all. Did she have an evil grin on her face hidden by her Cu Mask+ as she said this?

Lam hinted that anyone serving the Legislative Council had to have the correct political leaning, which is perhaps why some people were disqualified from running in the election. But since it's been postponed that's all moot now.

This evening's announcement only makes the Hong Kong government's premise that "one country, two systems" still exists is a sham.

Earlier today Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu said on RTHK that the government is so shameless, it no longer cares about what the world thinks.

"But again if this Hong Kong government is still trying to convince the rest of the world that 'hey this is an international city, there is still One Country, Two Systems', then of course they have to make up even more excuses or put up more reasons to convince others."

Activist Ray Wong seeking asylum in Germany

Each passing day there is a new development that leaves Hongkongers flabbergasted at how fast the city is changing.

Just before the press conference was to start, another bombshell dropped with the Director of Prosecutions announcing he had quit and would leave his job at the end of the year.

David Leung Cheuk-yin, who has been a prosecutor for 25 years, wrote in an email to colleagues: "It is most unfortunately that I do not see eye to eye with the SJ [Secretary for Justice] on the running of PD [Prosecutions Department], and the situation has not improved with the passage of time."

He also revealed that he was not privy to cases related to the new national security law implemented a month ago.

"As to the National Security cases, I do not have information for you as my assistance and participation in those matters have not been required," he wrote.

It's quite revealing that Leung, as Hong Kong's top prosecutor has no part in any of the national security case and was completely sidelined.

Meanwhile Nathan Law Kwun-chung and five others who fled Hong Kong are now wanted by Hong Kong police for breaching the national security law on charges of inciting secession and colluding with foreign forces.

Along with Law, the others are former UK consulate worker Simon Cheng, activists Ray Wong, Samuel Chu, Wayne Chan and Honcques Laus.

Law replied on Facebook he was not sure what his "crime" would be, but perhaps it was because he "loves Hong Kong too much".

He added since he left Hong Kong he stopped contacting his family and would sever his relationship with them in the hopes of not having them caught up in his work.

As Hong Kong is dragged kicking and screaming closer to the motherland, the rest of us wonder what's going to happen tomorrow...