Interview: Top legislature's decision on HKSAR LegCo allows Hong Kong to focus on fighting COVID-19: Leung Chun-ying

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HONG KONG, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The decision of China's top legislature on the vacancy of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will allow Hong Kong to focus on the anti-epidemic fight, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying said.

The sixth LegCo will continue to perform duties for no less than a year until the term of the seventh LegCo starts, according to a decision passed Tuesday at the 21st session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC).

"The decision of the NPC Standing Committee is reasonable and legitimate and has received support from most Hong Kong residents," Leung told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The decision addressed the LegCo vacancy after HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced in late July postponement of the election of the seventh-term LegCo, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 6, 2020, for one year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

"If the election were held as scheduled, the public gatherings of millions of voters would significantly increase the infection risk. Many voters, in particular old-aged voters, would likely give up their voting rights for fear of the infection risk, which would make an unfair election," Leung said.

Leung believed Tuesday's decision will allow the HKSAR government to concentrate efforts to rein in the COVID-19 spread and will ensure effective cooperation between the HKSAR government and legislature on various issues including developing the economy and improving people's livelihood.

"I hope the LegCo members who will remain in the post, no matter what political stance they have, will genuinely assume their responsibility according to the Basic Law to work with the government to contain the epidemic and push for an early economic recovery," Leung said.

The HKSAR government has announced plans to launch voluntary virus testing for all Hong Kong residents with the help of a mainland supportive team and three national testing service providers.

Leung welcomed the help of mainland professionals that significantly enhances the testing capacity of Hong Kong. "I and my family will register for the testing," he said.

Leung dismissed rumors spread by the opposition camp, such as the claim that DNA data of Hong Kong residents taking the virus tests will be sent to the mainland. He said people have no need to worry as those rumormongers are just repeating the smearing tactics that they had adopted over the past years.

The Hong Kong police arrested 10 people on Monday, with some suspected of breaching the national security law in Hong Kong, including Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, an instigator of the Hong Kong riots.

Leung said he believes Lai was arrested on suspicion of breaking laws, not because of the media company he owns, and stressed that freedom of the press is always guaranteed by law in Hong Kong.

"The national security law in Hong Kong has played an effective role in cracking down on violence and safeguarding social order since taking effect," Leung said, adding that more efforts should be made in this regard.

Responding to the so-called U.S. sanctions against some Chinese officials, including HKSAR government officials, Leung said the sanctions had hardly any influence on Hong Kong, adding that Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, have nothing to do with other countries. Enditem

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