Lupa Kata Sandi? Klik di Sini

atau Masuk melalui

Belum Memiliki Akun Daftar di Sini


atau Daftar melalui

Sudah Memiliki Akun Masuk di Sini

Konfirmasi Email

Kami telah mengirimkan link aktivasi melalui email ke rudihamdani@gmail.com.

Klik link aktivasi dan dapatkan akses membaca 2 artikel gratis non Laput di koran dan Majalah Tempo

Jika Anda tidak menerima email,
Kirimkan Lagi Sekarang

Hong Kong Delays Election Citing Pandemic

Translator

Tempo.co

Editor

Laila Afifa

1 August 2020 20:33 WIB

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam reacts as lawmakers shout slogans, disrupting her annual policy address at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China, October 16, 2019. Lam was forced to halt her annual policy address on Wednesday after some lawmakers disrupted the session, shouting and jeering as she started her speech. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TEMPO.COHong Kong - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday, August 1, postponed a Sept. 6 election to the Chinese-ruled city’s legislature by a year because of a rise in coronavirus cases, dealing a blow to the pro-democracy opposition which had hoped to make huge gains.

The United States quickly condemned the move, saying it was the latest example of Beijing undermining democracy in the Chinese-ruled territory.

“This action undermines the democratic processes and freedoms that have underpinned Hong Kong’s prosperity,” White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told reporters.

The decision to delay the vote came after 12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from running for perceived subversive intentions and opposition to a sweeping new security law imposed by Beijing, prompting questions among many about whether the pandemic was the real reason for the delay.

“Postponing the September elections for a year is a cynical move to contain a political emergency, not a public health one,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.

“This simply allows Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to deny Hong Kong people their right to choose their government.”

Avery Ng, secretary-general of the League of Social Democrats, was equally skeptical.

“Obviously the Chinese Communist Party is using COVID-19 as a cover to stop Hong Kongers from voting against the government and democrats’ potential majority win,” he told Reuters.

“Together with the mass disqualification of candidates, the CCP ... only allows an election in which they can control the outcome to take place.”

Germany announced it would suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong following Lam’s decision.

The opposition had aimed to ride a wave of resentment over the national security law to win a majority in the Legislative Council, where half the seats are directly elected with the other half filled mostly by pro-Beijing appointees.

Lam said she had to invoke an emergency law to make the postponement and no political considerations were involved. China’s parliament would decide how to fill the legislative vacuum, she added.

She told reporters the decision was aimed at safeguarding people’s health.

“We have 3 million voters going out in one day across Hong Kong, such flow of people would cause a high risk of infection,” Lam said.

Hong Kong has reported more than 3,000 coronavirus cases since January, far lower than in other major cities around the world. But the number of new infections has been in the triple-digits for the past 10 days.

Rival finance hub Singapore, which has had a larger coronavirus outbreak, held a general election in July. Many pro-democracy activists had suspected Lam would use the coronavirus to delay the election.

The poll would have been the former British colony’s first official vote since Beijing imposed the security law to tackle what China broadly defines as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, with a punishment of up to life in prison.

Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula guaranteeing freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland. Critics of the new law say it undermines that autonomy.

The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the law is necessary to preserve order and prosperity after months of often-violent anti-China protests last year.

“I anticipated it, because of this year’s social movements, we already anticipated that the government wouldn’t give us the right to let us vote,” said resident Janis Chow, 25. “I’m disappointed but I was ready for it.”

‘POLITICAL PURGE’

News of the postponement came as the nomination period for candidates seeking to run in the election closed.

Among the 12 opposition candidates disqualified was Joshua Wong, who rose to fame leading pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong as a teenager in 2012 and 2014.

“Barring me from running ... would not stop our cause for democracy,” said Wong, 23.

Wong, who China calls a “black hand” of foreign forces, said his disqualification was “invalid and ridiculous” and the new law a “legal weapon used against dissidents”.

The government denies political censorship or suppression of the right to run for the legislature.

Authorities also disqualified some members of the Civic Party, a moderate, old-guard opposition group, and others who won an unofficial “primary” vote held by the opposition camp this month.

That independently organized vote saw a younger, more defiant generation of democrats taking over the helm of the opposition, but the Civic Party disqualifications signal Beijing is becoming less tolerant of even moderate voices.

Britain said it was clear the candidates had been barred because of their political views. Hong Kong’s last British governor, Chris Patten, called it an “outrageous political purge”.

China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a statement that officials would be sent down to Hong Kong to conduct large-scale coronavirus tests “to help Hong Kong build a large-scale quarantine and treatment center”, again sparking concerns among some local residents, this time that China may use this as an excuse to collect DNA samples for surveillance purposes.

REUTERS


China Company Leaders Visit BP Batam, Exploring Business Development Potential

8 jam lalu

China Company Leaders Visit BP Batam, Exploring Business Development Potential

A total of 30 manufacturing company leaders from China and members of the Suzhou Hunan Business Association visited BP Batam on Wednesday.


Election Fraud in a Neighboring Country

13 jam lalu

Election Fraud in a Neighboring Country

Seven members of the Kuala Lumpur PPLN are proven to have inflated the number of voters for the 2024 elections.


Hong Kong Promotes Muslim-friendly Tourism to Attract Indonesian Visitors

14 jam lalu

Hong Kong Promotes Muslim-friendly Tourism to Attract Indonesian Visitors

Hong Kong is one of the go-to travel destinations for tourists from Indonesia.


China's Xi Jinping to Meet with American Executives on Wednesday, Sources Say

2 hari lalu

China's Xi Jinping to Meet with American Executives on Wednesday, Sources Say

China's President Xi Jinping will meet with American business leaders in Beijing on Wednesday, March 27.


Police Thwart Drug Smuggling Attempt from China

2 hari lalu

Police Thwart Drug Smuggling Attempt from China

The China-based international network smuggled the illicit goods into three jars of energy drinks.


Minister Tito Affirms No Govt Intervention in 2024 Election But Support

2 hari lalu

Minister Tito Affirms No Govt Intervention in 2024 Election But Support

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian pointed out the government's support to ensure the success of the 2024 Elections.


Mahfud Md Says It's Not Yet Time to Congratulate Prabowo-Gibran

2 hari lalu

Mahfud Md Says It's Not Yet Time to Congratulate Prabowo-Gibran

Mahfud Md stressed that it was not yet time to congratulate Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the winners of the election.


Indonesia Punishes 240 Civil Servants Who Violated Neutrality in Elections

3 hari lalu

Indonesia Punishes 240 Civil Servants Who Violated Neutrality in Elections

The Indonesian government has sanctioned a total of 240 civil servants found violating their commitments to neutrality during 2024 general election.


Indonesia Showcases Traditional Dances and Music in 2024 Hong Kong Flower Show

3 hari lalu

Indonesia Showcases Traditional Dances and Music in 2024 Hong Kong Flower Show

The Hong Kong Flower Show is one of the most popular exhibitions in Hong Kong, with hundreds of thousands of visitors attending each year.


Sri Mulyani: Govt Spending Surpasses Rp328.9 trillion, Social Assistance and 2024 Elections Contribute Largest

3 hari lalu

Sri Mulyani: Govt Spending Surpasses Rp328.9 trillion, Social Assistance and 2024 Elections Contribute Largest

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said that central government spending until March 15, 2024, reached Rp328.9 trillion.