Hong Kong delays polls citing pandemic, but democracy camp sceptical
Source: Reuters
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday postponed a Sept. 6 election to the Chinese-ruled city’s legislature by a year because of a rise in coronavirus cases, dealing a blow to the pro-democracy opposition which had hoped to make huge gains.
The decision came after 12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from running for perceived subversive intentions and opposition to a sweeping new security law imposed by Beijing, prompting questions among many about whether the pandemic was the real reason for the delay.
“Postponing the September elections for a year is a cynical move to contain a political emergency, not a public health one,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.
“This simply allows Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to deny Hong Kong people their right to choose their government.”
Reporting by Yanni Chow, Carol Mang, Meg Shen, James Pomfret, Joyce Zhou, Pak Yiu, Twinnie Siu and Scott Murdoch; Writing by Marius Zaharia and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel and Nick Macfie
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-election/hong-kong-delays-polls-citing-pandemic-but-democracy-camp-sceptical-idUSKCN24W0I5?il=0
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Again why do countries do business with China.................not for democracy, the greed supports a authoritarian regime .................
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