Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday postponed a Sept. 6 election for the territory's legislature for a year because of a spike in novel coronavirus cases, dealing a blow to the pro-democracy opposition hoping to make gains in the vote.

The opposition had aimed to ride a wave of resentment against the new national security law, which Beijing imposed on the city on June 30, to win a majority in the Legislative Council, where half the seats are directly elected and the other half filled mostly by pro-Beijing appointees.

The postponement comes after 12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from running for reasons including perceived subversive intentions, opposition to the new security law and campaigning to win a legislation-blocking majority.