Hong Kong Media: "Yanghoe Shortened to One Week Due to COVID-19"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China's largest political event, the "Lianghui" (Two Sessions: the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), is likely to end in one week this year, breaking the usual two-week schedule to reflect the COVID-19 situation.

On the 7th, Hong Kong media Apple Daily reported that Hong Kong representatives attending the NPC led by Ma Fengguo will undergo COVID-19 nucleic acid testing in Shenzhen, adjacent to Hong Kong, on the 19th. If no abnormalities are found, they will go to Beijing the next day and return to Hong Kong as a group after the meeting ends on the 28th.

The newspaper quoted Ma's remarks, stating that during their stay in Beijing, they will be subject to closed-loop management due to the impact of COVID-19. Individual activities will be restricted except for commuting between the hotel where they stay and the Great Hall of the People where the Lianghui is held. After the meeting ends, they must return directly to Hong Kong.

This year's Lianghui, delayed by about two and a half months compared to previous years due to the COVID-19 aftermath, will start on May 21, and if the NPC ends on the 28th, the duration of the Lianghui will be reduced to about one week, roughly half the usual length. It will be the shortest Lianghui in history.

Although the exact format of the Lianghui has not yet been disclosed, the possibility remains open that the meeting may be conducted in a hybrid format with video conferencing, as has been attempted several times before.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.