Chinese Media Emphasize Severity of Hong Kong COVID-19, Stress Necessity of Election Postponement
Hong Kong Democratic Forces Warn of "Black Hole Parliament"... Concerns Over Mainland-Centered Legal Bills Passed in Bulk
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese government has dispatched an emergency medical team (Inland Nucleic Acid Testing Support Unit) to Hong Kong, where COVID-19 is resurging. This move came immediately after the announcement to postpone the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) election, originally scheduled for September 6, by one year. It is interpreted as an effort to justify the postponement of the Hong Kong election and to reiterate that Mainland China and Hong Kong are 'one country.'
Chinese state media such as People's Daily and Xinhua News Agency reported on the 3rd (local time) that more than 60 COVID-19 testing medical personnel from Guangdong Province have been dispatched to Hong Kong, where the COVID-19 outbreak is severe. Chinese media also reported that a seven-member advance team arrived in Hong Kong on the 2nd ahead of the main medical team.
Additionally, Chinese media added that six medical staff from Fangchang Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, who have experience operating temporary hospitals, have been separately dispatched to Hong Kong. As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surged and hospital beds became scarce, Hong Kong health authorities designated the AsiaWorld-Expo Center as a temporary hospital.
As of the 2nd, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong stands at 3,511 (cumulative). Considering Hong Kong's total population of about 7.5 million, infections have recently increased sharply. Chinese media especially recalled Mainland China's support during the 2003 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, emphasizing that this emergency medical team dispatch is Mainland China's support and backing to jointly overcome the epidemic crisis.
Chinese state media also stressed that the one-year postponement of the Hong Kong Legislative Council election is a desperate measure to protect the lives of Hong Kong citizens. They reiterated that the postponement has sufficient legal grounds and has undergone legal review, asserting that it does not violate Mainland Chinese law.
Maria Tam, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said, "The health of Hong Kong citizens is under great threat," adding, "Since dozens of countries have postponed elections, creating a more stable environment is the judgment of the Hong Kong authorities." She also stated that the election postponement is legal.
Leung Mei-fun, Chairperson of the Judiciary and Legal Services Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council, said, "The election postponement does not deprive Hong Kong residents of their voting rights, nor should it be perceived as such." However, concerns remain that the one-year postponement will increase China's control over Hong Kong. There is significant worry that Mainland China-centered laws could be passed en masse during this period.
In Mainland China, the idea of appointing 'interim legislators' to fill the legislative gap is being proposed. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Ip Kwok-him (葉國謙), a member of the Executive Council, Hong Kong's cabinet, suggested that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) could designate interim legislators to handle legislation for one year. He argued that pro-democracy figures should be excluded when appointing interim legislators, implying that the interim cabinet would be filled with pro-Beijing personnel.
In response, opposition lawmakers protested, saying, "The legislature has fallen into a black hole due to the election postponement," and "The Chinese government will take this opportunity to pass harsh laws and policies." The Hong Kong Legislative Council consists of 70 seats, with 35 geographical constituency seats and 35 functional constituency seats. Since pro-Beijing forces mostly control the functional constituency seats, it is extremely difficult for the pro-democracy camp to secure legislative dominance even if they perform well in geographical constituency elections.
The Hong Kong democratic camp had aimed to secure a majority of seats in the upcoming September LegCo election, riding the momentum of their landslide victory in the district council elections last November.
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