Decision to delay election not political

July 31, 2020

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:


The decision to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council election has nothing to do with politics, has nothing to do with the likely outcome of this round of election. It is purely on the basis of protecting the health and safety of the Hong Kong people and to ensure that elections are held in a fair and open manner. So my concern in whichever election is the same - is we should conduct elections in a fair, open and honest manner. It is not for me to say who, or who should not come on to the Legislative Council or the District Council. This is the choice of the electorate.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said the decision to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council election has nothing to do with politics and was made on the basis of protecting the health of Hong Kong people.

Mrs Lam made the statement at a press conference this evening, where she announced that the LegCo election scheduled for September 6 will be postponed to September 5, 2021, due to the severe COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong.

She said: "The decision to postpone the 2020 LegCo election has nothing to do with politics, has nothing to do with the likely outcome of this round of election.

"It is purely on the basis of protecting the health and safety of the Hong Kong people."

Mrs Lam emphasised that all elections should be conducted fairly, openly and honestly.

"It is not for me to say who, or who should not come on to the Legislative Council or the District Council. This is the choice of the electorate."