Hong Kong elections: Carrie Lam says public agrees with decision to postpone Legco polls, but city prepared to handle those who do not

‘If some people oppose by protesting on the streets … or even take part in riots, we have the ability to handle these situations,’ chief executive says

Lam adds that negative perceptions of the decision are due more to rising US-China tensions than objective fact

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Carrie Lam remarks on Saturday came a day after she cited risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic in announcing Legco elections originally slated for September would be delayed. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:21pm, 1 Aug 2020Updated: 11:53pm, 1 Aug 2020

Hong Kong’s leader has said she believes public opinion is on her side in the government’s decision to postpone next month's Legislative Council elections by a year.

But Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also said the government had the ability to deal with any potential backlash to the delay, including street protests.

Her remarks on Saturday came a day after she cited risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic in announcing Legco elections originally slated for September would be delayed.

In an television interview, Lam was asked if she could foresee potential political consequences that could arise from the postponement.

“If some people oppose [the postponement] by protesting on the streets in defiance of the two-person gathering limit during the epidemic, or even take part in riots, we have the ability to handle these situations,” she said.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Lam said she had discussed the epidemic with one of the government’s expert medical advisers but not the decision to postpone the elections.

A provisional Legislative Council is expected to sit during the year-long postponement of the elections that were to take place in September. Photo: Nora Tam