Election delay 'only' option for HK, says former health chief

HONG KONG – Postponing the Legislative Council elections is "the only option" for the city to prevent further spread of coronavirus infections, said former secretary for food and health Ko Wing-man.

In a phone interview with China Daily on Saturday, the medical professional called on the public to consider the move from a scientific – rather than a political – point of view, and cooperate with the SAR government in combatting with COVID-19.

The Hong Kong government announced postponement of the elections, originally scheduled for Sep 6, for a year on the ground of the worsening pandemic situation in the city.

Citing the severity of the pandemic situation, Ko refuted some critics who alleged that the government has overreacted to it.

"I do not think that there is absolute confidence that we can control the situation, say, by the end of August or even early September."

As of Saturday, Hong Kong has recorded a triple-digit increase in daily new cases for the 11th day in a row, despite a series of updated restrictions. The city's COVID-19 cases tally reached 3,397, including 33 deaths.

He cautioned that if the LegCo elections go ahead as planned, there could be another wave of the outbreak with more people likely to get infected.