US condemns Hong Kong govt's decision to postpone elections by a year

US on Friday condemned Hong Kong government's decision to postpone its legislative council elections by one year in view of COVID-19 outbreak, saying move undermines democratic processes.

government invoked an emergency ordinance to delay polls. Hong Kong leer Carrie Lam said government will hold polls in September 2021.

"We condemn Hong Kong government's decision to postpone by one year its legislative council elections and to disqualify opposition candidates," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at a news conference here.

"This action undermines democratic processes and freedoms that have underpinned Hong Kong's prosperity. And this is only most recent in a growing list of broken promises by Beijing which promised automy and freedoms to people of Hong Kong until 2047 in Si-British Joint Declaration," she said, responding to a question on Chinese government-backed minstration's decision to delay elections.

In a statement, Senator Marco Rubio, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations' Subcommittee that oversees human rights and affairs on democracy, said actions of Hong Kong government on Thursday to disqualify 12 pro-democracy candidates from running in Legislative Council election, including prominent leers Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, strips people of Hong Kong of ir voice and secures Beijing's control.

" Chinese Communist Party's determination to remake city in its im is an outr and a trdy for those who support cause of freedom. US and international community must respond to se assaults by CCP and assist Hong Kongers who will need protection from political persecution," he said.