'CE Election On May 8 Is The Only Plan For Now'

The government says it has no plan to further postpone the Chief Executive election beyond May 8.

The poll, originally slated for March 27, had been postponed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam by invoking the Emergency Ordinance so the administration could focus on tackling the Covid-19 outbreak.

At a Legco panel meeting on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Roy Tang, was grilled by several lawmakers over whether the election will be delayed again if the outbreak remains serious by May.

In response, Tang said May 8 was the “only plan”, stressing that the SAR government’s decision on when to hold the election was bound by the Basic Law, and it has no authority to postpone the election beyond June 30 – the last day of this term of government.

“The government’s power to amend laws is limited by the Basic Law. That’s why any arrangement that’s beyond July 1 is not within the remit of the SAR government. I think we all understand that,” the official said.

But he acknowledged that under the Chief Executive Election Ordinance, the Electoral Affairs Commission does have the power to further postpone the poll for 14 days at a time for public health reasons.

Asked whether the National People’s Congress Standing Committee could order the election to be held after June 30, Tang said laws enacted by the country’s highest legislative body override local laws. But he said he could not comment on the country’s arrangements for the CE election.

He also said there are contingency plans for any infected Election Committee members to vote on polling day.

As to whether it was possible for the SAR to select the new CE through “consultations” instead of an election – an option stipulated in Article 45 of the Basic Law – Tang said local laws do not specify such arrangements and it is a matter that has to be decided by Beijing.