Political situation
Written by: Chen Chuolan
2020-08-01 20:44
Last update date: 2020-08-01 20:44The government yesterday (31st) said that due to the severe epidemic situation, it quoted the "Emergency Regulations Ordinance" to postpone the Legislative Council election for one year. The relevant decision was not discussed with four expert consultants.
“Ming Pao” published a report yesterday stating that seven experts recently asked seven experts about the postponement of the Legislative Council election. Six people did not respond or responded anonymously. Some of them said that under the Hong Kong National Security Act, no Hong Kong government’s decision could be criticized. The Chief Executive’s Office issued a press release today, stating that it has noticed that some media have made misleading reports on the communication between the Chief Executive and government anti-epidemic experts. It regrets this and emphasized that it has not discussed it with any government anti-epidemic expert. Post adjournment of election matters.
The Chief Executive's Office stated that it regretted that there were individual media reports that pierced the meeting and tried to make readers think that the Chief Executive quoted experts' opinions on the election. (Profile picture)
A spokesperson for the Chief Executive's Office emphasized that Chief Executive Carrie Lam has not discussed the postponement of elections with any government anti-epidemic expert, and that every anti-epidemic measure has been implemented by the SAR government through overall consideration. The opinions of experts quoted by Lin Zheng at the press conference are all related to the epidemic. The Chief Executive’s Office expressed regret for individual media reports that attempted to make readers think that the Chief Executive quoted experts’ opinions on the election.
The press release of the Chief Executive’s Office further stated that in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had taken the initiative to clarify some of the media’s false reports to the four experts at the meeting of the Anti-epidemic Expert Advisory Committee held this afternoon.
According to a report published by Ming Pao yesterday, seven experts were recently inquired about whether the epidemic was severe enough to postpone the election. Six people did not reply, refused to respond, or did not want to be reported by name. One expert was quoted as saying that they cannot be reported under the National Security Law. Criticizing any Hong Kong government's decision, saying that the law would endanger academic freedom, the expert also pointed out that many colleagues are considering leaving Hong Kong due to the National Security Law, and believe that the high standards of local university research will gradually decline.
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