Postponing LegCo election 'reasonable', CPPCC member says

Given the proliferation of COVID-19 and the likelihood Hong Kong will still be dealing with the raging pandemic in September, the decision to postpone the Legislative Council elections for another year is both lawful and reasonable, said Eliza Chan, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body.

The postponement is necessary to safeguard the lives and health of Hong Kong people and to ensure the safety, justice and fairness of the election, said Chan, Senior Consultant at Deloitte and a solicitor from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

"It will help Hong Kong focus on public health and restore normal economic activities," Chan said.

With continuous community transmission of the virus in Hong Kong, it is clear large crowds assembling at polling stations would greatly increase the risk of further infection, she said.

Moreover, in such dangerous circumstances, many voters would simply choose not to vote. Others are unable to return to Hong Kong because of border control measures and quarantine regulations, she added.

Chan said aside from the risk of spreading the virus on polling day, for an election to be fair candidates must have the opportunity to engage with voters. This simply cannot happen in a city fighting a new wave of COVID-19 infections, with numerous social distancing measures in place.

"Simply put: if it isn't safe enough for our schools to open in September, then it is not safe enough for us to vote," she said.