Hong Kong postpones leader election amid COVID-19 outbreak

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong will postpone the election of its next leader until May 8 as it grapples with a worsening coronavirus outbreak with thousands of new infections daily. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says the election will be delayed six weeks from March 27 because holding the polls as originally scheduled would pose “public health risks” even if a committee of only 1,462 people is involved. Hong Kong’s leader is selected by a committee made up of legislators, representatives of various industries and professions, and pro-Beijing representatives such as Hong Kong deputies to the Chinese national parliament. Lam also says there are plans to test the entire city of Hong Kong for COVID-19 but denied it would be put under strict lockdown.