Hong Kong leader turns down invite to ‘two sessions’ in Beijing, citing need to lead anti-pandemic fight
- The Chief Executive’s Office said Carrie Lam would remain in the city and ‘continue to lead Hong Kong to fight the epidemic with all-out efforts’
- Meanwhile, Ma Fung-kwok has become the latest Hong Kong delegate to be forced to skip the annual parliamentary meetings after a potential exposure to the coronavirus
Hong Kong’s leader has turned down an invitation from Beijing to attend the opening of China’s annual parliamentary meetings on Saturday, citing her “overriding mission” to lead the city’s efforts against a worsening coronavirus outbreak.
“In view of the severe epidemic situation in Hong Kong, the chief executive will stay in Hong Kong and continue to lead Hong Kong to fight the epidemic with all-out efforts, with the overriding mission of stabilising the epidemic,” a spokesman for the Chief Executive’s Office said.
On Sunday, Hong Kong’s daily caseload hit a new high of more than 26,000, with 83 deaths reported.
This will be the second time Lam misses a key national ceremony this year due to the city’s surging fifth wave of infections. She was similarly forced to skip the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 4.
At least 16 Hong Kong delegates will not be able to attend the coming meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) due to potential exposure to the coronavirus, while others have said they are staying in the city for different reasons.