Hong Kong opposition may split over delayed election

Significance

The current Council will sit until then. The administration justified its decision on the basis of a spike in coronavirus cases, but many believe it is an effort to hamper the opposition, which for the first time stood a real chance of winning a majority despite an electoral system skewed against it.

Impacts

• Despite losing confidence in Hong Kong, other countries will probably not alter their treatment of it as much as the United States has.
• Referring to decision to postpone the election to Beijing weakens the legal wall between Hong Kong and mainland China.
• The Hong Kong government will continue to exert legal pressure on prominent activists, including application of the National Security Law.