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Hong Kong third wave: health chief has no ‘particular views’ on whether Covid-19 should delay Legislative Council elections
- Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan says issue is a matter for ‘different bureaus’
- Pro-Beijing lawmakers have called for postponement as number of infections rises
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Hong Kong’s health minister Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee does not have any “particular views” on whether the planned Legislative Council elections in September should be postponed because of the coronavirus, she said on Tuesday.
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Beijing loyalists in Hong Kong have been lobbying for a delay amid the worsening Covid-19 outbreak in the city, where the total number of infections rose by another 145 cases on Monday to 2,778, and four people died, taking the number of fatalities to 22.
The continued surge prompted the government to announce a raft of new measures that take effect on Wednesday.
Gatherings of more than two people will be banned, restaurants will be limited to only serving takeaway, and people must wear a mask in outdoor public places.
Asked if her bureau had advised authorities to postpone the elections, Chan said she did not have an opinion, and “different bureaus” would consider the matter.
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“We don’t have particular views on this, because right now we need to focus on [fighting the outbreak].”
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