Given the severe pandemic situation, the 2022 chief executive election will be postponed to May 8, about a month later than the originally slated time of March 27, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Friday.

Lam said the government has invoked the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to make the decision. And it has been approved by the Executive Council.

The nomination period, which was scheduled to run through Feb 20 to March 5, will also be changed to April 3 to 16, Lam told a press briefing.