Coronavirus: pro-Beijing delegation exploring ways to attend top legislature, advisory body meetings virtually after colleague tests positive

Irons Sze, member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, says he developed a fever after arriving in Shenzhen and tested positive for the virus

Sze and 10 others on the same bus as him have to isolate for 21 days, and are exploring ways to attend the two sessions virtually

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The meetings of the nation’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, and advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, will begin on March 4. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:15pm, 26 Feb 2022Updated: 10:36pm, 26 Feb 2022

Members of a pro-Beijing delegation from Hong Kong are exploring ways to attend the country’s two most important annual conferences virtually, after getting stuck in quarantine in Shenzhen for 21 days when their colleague tested positive for Covid-19.

The trip of about a dozen Hong Kong delegates bound for Beijing to attend meetings of the nation’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), and advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was cut short on Friday when Irons Sze Wing-wai tested positive while undergoing quarantine across the border.

Ten others who shared the same bus with Sze, a CPPCC member, were listed as close contacts. On Friday evening they were moved to a separate quarantine hotel to undergo medical surveillance for 21 days.

The rest of the delegation of about 50 members would serve seven days’ quarantine in Shenzhen as per the city’s requirements before continuing to Beijing.

Nick Chan, a deputy to the National People’s Congress. Photo: Edmond So

Nick Chan Hiu-fung, a deputy to the NPC, said he was working with staff on the ground to see if he could join the meetings virtually.

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