Hong Kong’s district council elections must proceed as planned, European Union urges

Ruling out a delay would ‘send an important signal about democratic rights under the Basic Law’, 28-nation bloc says

Amid siege at university, EU also calls for de-escalation by all sides, police action to remain ‘proportionate’, and a comprehensive inquiry

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Chaotic exchanges in Hong Kong between police and protesters have added to concerns that Sunday’s elections could be postponed. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:33am, 19 Nov 2019Updated: 8:59pm, 19 Nov 2019

The European Union has urged the Hong Kong government not to delay this Sunday’s district council elections, amid speculation about a possible postponement in the face of ongoing protests in the city.

The 28-country bloc also called for police action to remain “strictly proportionate” in and around Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where a tense stand-off between radical protesters and police was continuing.

The statement came in the form of a declaration by the European Commission’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on behalf of the EU.

“Every effort needs to be made to ensure that the district council elections on November 24 proceed as planned,” Mogherini said. “This will send an important signal about the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Basic Law,” she said, referring to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

An EU diplomatic source said there would be a “serious response” should the Hong Kong government delay the election.

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