Hong Kong police arrest 90 at protests over election delay

At least 90 people have been arrested at protests against the Hong Kong government’s decision to postpone elections for the legislature, police and a news report say.

The elections were to have taken place today but Chief Executive Carrie Lam on July 31 postponed them for one year. Lam blamed an upsurge in coronavirus cases, but critics say her government worried the opposition would gain seats if voting went ahead on schedule.

People sitting on the ground are arrested by police officers at a downtown street in Hong Kong Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020 (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Anti-government protests have been held in Hong Kong almost every weekend since June 2019. They erupted over a proposed extradition law and spread to include demands for greater democracy and criticism of Beijing’s efforts to tighten control over the former British colony.

— AP