The poll would have been Hong Kong’s first official vote given that Beijing enforced a new security law.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday delayed a Sept. 6 election for seats in the city legislature for a year because of a spike in novel coronavirus cases, dealing a blow to the pro-democracy opposition intending to make gains in the vote.
The opposition was wanting to win a historical majority in the Legislative Council, where only half the seats are straight elected and the other half filled mainly by pro-Beijing appointees.
Ms. Lam’s post ponement of the vote comes after 12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from running in the survey, for factors including perceived subversive objectives, opposition to a new security law an