Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces on July 31 the postponement of this year’s Legislative Council election. Lam may have been sincere in her stated motivation to protect public health, but her decision has created more problems than it solved. Photo: Xinhua Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces on July 31 the postponement of this year’s Legislative Council election. Lam may have been sincere in her stated motivation to protect public health, but her decision has created more problems than it solved. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces on July 31 the postponement of this year’s Legislative Council election. Lam may have been sincere in her stated motivation to protect public health, but her decision has created more problems than it solved. Photo: Xinhua
Mike Rowse
Opinion

Opinion

Mike Rowse

The coronavirus didn’t stop Hong Kong holding an election. Carrie Lam’s poor judgment did

  • With the right planning, Hong Kong was fully capable of ensuring that voting in the Legislative Council election took place safely, with minimal health risks
  • The postponement has created two related constitutional problems that only Beijing can solve, which only highlights the SAR government’s ineptitude

Mike Rowse
Mike Rowse

Updated: 7:13pm, 9 Aug, 2020

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces on July 31 the postponement of this year’s Legislative Council election. Lam may have been sincere in her stated motivation to protect public health, but her decision has created more problems than it solved. Photo: Xinhua Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces on July 31 the postponement of this year’s Legislative Council election. Lam may have been sincere in her stated motivation to protect public health, but her decision has created more problems than it solved. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces on July 31 the postponement of this year’s Legislative Council election. Lam may have been sincere in her stated motivation to protect public health, but her decision has created more problems than it solved. Photo: Xinhua
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Mike Rowse

Mike Rowse

Mike Rowse has lived in Hong Kong since 1972, and is a naturalised Chinese citizen. He spent six years in the ICAC from 1974 to 1980, then 28 years in the government as an administrative officer until retirement in December 2008. He is now the search director for Stanton Chase International, and also hosts a radio talk show and writes regularly for both English and Chinese media.