DIFFICULT DECISIONOn Friday evening, chief executive Carrie Lam, a pro-Beijing appointee, announced that September elections for the city's legislature would need to be delayed. It also came a day after a dozen prominent democracy activists were barred from standing for election because their political views were deemed to be unacceptable. Planning to capitalise on last year's huge and often violent anti-Beijing protests, democracy activists had been hoping to win their first-ever majority in September. In response, China imposed its security law on June 30, bypassing the legislature and keeping the contents of the law secret until it was enacted. INDEPENDENCEBut the broadly worded law instantly outlawed certain political views such as promoting independence or greater autonomy for Hong Kong.

Source: Daily Nation July 31, 2020 10:52 UTC