China Moves to Resolve Controversy Over Delayed Hong Kong Elections

HONG KONG—Beijing stepped in to settle uncertainty over a controversial yearlong delay to Hong Kong’s legislative elections, approving plans to keep the city’s current lawmakers in office for at least 12 more months.

The decision issued Tuesday by China’s top lawmaking body is seen as a less contentious option for ensuring the Hong Kong legislature keeps functioning after its current term ends at the end of next month, compared with some of the alternatives—for instance, having Beijing appoint interim legislators, which some…