The U.S and key allies Australia and the U.K. voiced new concern about Hong Kong’s upcoming elections, amid a flurry of local media reports that the government was considering postponing the vote for as long as a year.
The U.S. and Australia reiterated "deep concern” over the national security legislation China recently imposed on Hong Kong in a statement, saying they hoped the city can choose a new legislature on Sept. 6 "via a genuinely free and fair election, which is credible and peaceful.” Separately, U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi that Britain "would be watching the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections in September closely.”
The statements come after media reports Tuesday that Hong Kong authorities were considering a delay to the Legislative Council election due to a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases. China has repeatedly denounced such comments by the U.S. and its allies as an inappropriate interference in its internal affairs.