The 21st Meeting of the NPC Standing Committee Held... Discussion on the Hong Kong Legislative Council Vacancy Period

Current Lawmakers Facing Election Ban Amid Strong Prospects for 1-Year Term Extension Deliberate on Issue

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese government is set to discuss follow-up measures related to the postponement of the Hong Kong Legislative Council election at the 21st meeting of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, according to the Chinese state-run Global Times on the 6th.

The Global Times explained that the NPC Standing Committee meeting will address related matters to minimize the legislative vacancy caused by the one-year postponement of the Hong Kong election.

The Global Times added that the one-year postponement of the Hong Kong election is due to a special situation caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and therefore, there is no need for measures such as amending or abolishing the Basic Law.

Tan Yaozhong, a member of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, said, "As solutions to address issues arising from the postponement of the Hong Kong election, options such as extending the current legislators' terms by one year and forming a provisional Legislative Council are being discussed," adding, "This issue will be addressed at the 21st meeting of the 13th NPC Standing Committee."

Hong Kong authorities had previously inquired with the central government on how to handle the legislative vacancy caused by the postponement of the Legislative Council election.

Currently, Hong Kong authorities are reportedly favoring the most practical alternative of extending the current legislators' terms by one year.

Measures such as amending or abolishing the Basic Law are expected to face strong opposition from the West, including the United States, making the one-year term extension the most likely option.

The Global Times reported that if the one-year term extension is finally decided, how to handle four legislators from the pro-democracy camp could become another issue. Last month, the Hong Kong Election Committee disqualified 12 pro-democracy figures, including Joshua Wong, from running in the election. Among them, four are current legislators.

The Global Times also noted that there are reportedly differing opinions within the NPC Standing Committee regarding the term extension for the four disqualified legislators.

The Global Times did not mention the timing of the 21st meeting of the 13th NPC Standing Committee.

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