Hong Kong elections: China’s top legislative body leaning towards allowing lawmakers banned from polls to serve in extended Legco session: sources

Postponement of Legislative Council elections has been formally added to the standing committee agenda, with a decision expected on Tuesday

While some pro-establishment lawmakers believe legislators barred from the next polls should be allowed to work through an extension, many more think otherwise

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A four-day meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee opened on Saturday. China’s top legislative body will determine next steps following Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s decision to postpone the city’s Legislative Council elections. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:53pm, 8 Aug 2020Updated: 10:22pm, 9 Aug 2020

China’s top legislative body is leaning towards allowing all incumbent Hong Kong lawmakers – including the four disqualified from the next elections – to serve out an extended year of the city’s Legislative Council, the Post has learned.

The National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) on Saturday formally placed the “continuation of Hong Kong’s sixth Legco” on its agenda, as it kicked off a four-day session in Beijing, during which it planned to issue a decision on the potential power vacuum created by the delay, state broadcaster CCTV said.

“Incumbent lawmakers would have the chance to stay, for the moment … after going through certain procedures like signing the declaration form or taking oaths,” a source familiar with the NPCSC meeting said.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the NPCSC’s decision would only outline broader principles, then hand it over for the Hong Kong government to act upon and determine the details.

Whether four lawmakers disqualified from the next Legco election can remain in office during an extended term will be decided by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which began a four-day meeting on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

According to the CCTV report, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong on Saturday presented a resolution to the NPCSC, with the State Council expressing support for postponing the elections.

Hong Kong elections: China’s top legislative body leaning towards allowing lawmakers banned from polls to serve in extended Legco session: sources

Postponement of Legislative Council elections has been formally added to the standing committee agenda, with a decision expected on Tuesday While some pro-establishment lawmakers believe legislators barred from the next polls should be allowed to work through an extension, many more think otherwise