NPCSC Expected To Discuss SAR Power Vacuum

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has begun its four-day meeting in Beijing. The top decision-making body of the national legislature will reportedly discuss the Legislative Council power vacuum in Hong Kong, caused by the SAR government's decision last month to postpone September's Legco election for a year.

The government says the decision to postpone this September's vote was taken for public health reasons because of the pandemic. Critics say it had more to do with the possibility of a pan democrat victory, following their strong showing in the district council elections last year.

One possible outcome of the meeting is for the incumbent lawmakers to continue as before, perhaps in a provisional legislature. However, prior to the decision to postpone, returning officers had already prevented four incumbent pan democrat lawmakers - Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung - from standing in the now-delayed September vote.

Opinion is divided on whether they should be allowed to continue sitting.