Xi Defends Beijing’s Grip on Hong Kong at 25-Year Anniversary of Takeover

HONG KONG — Communist China’s leader, Xi Jinping, marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return in a speech Friday emphasizing Beijing’s comprehensive control over the once-British colony under his vision of the “one country, two systems” framework — countering criticism that the political and civic freedoms promised for the next quarter-century have been all but erased under Chinese rule.Mr. Xi praised the city for overcoming “violent social unrest” — a reference to the 2019 massive pro-democracy movement that was followed by a Beijing-led crackdown that has snuffed out dissent and shut down independent media, aligning Hong Kong more closely with stricter controls under China’s ruling Communist Party.Mr. Xi warned that there would be no tolerance for foreign interference or traitors to meddle in Hong Kong’s affairs. He said that “safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests” is of the highest priority.“Nobody in any country or region in the world will allow foreign countries or even traitorous forces and figures to seize power,” he said, adding that only by having patriots governing Hong Kong can it ensure long-term stability.He said that the framework that promised Hong Kong its own laws and government for 50 years after the 1997 handover from Britain was still a good system that “must be maintained for a long time.”But he also said that Beijing had “comprehensive jurisdiction” over Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong should respect Chinese leadership, even as Beijing allows regions like Hong Kong and neighboring Macao to maintain their capitalist system and a degree of autonomy.“After the return to the motherland, Hong Kong has overcome all kinds of challenges and moved forwards steadily,” Mr. Xi said. “Regardless of whether it was the international financial crisis, the coronavirus pandemic or violent social unrest, nothing has stopped Hong Kong’s progress.”Since the 2019 protests, authorities have used a sweeping national security law to arrest scores of activists, media figures and democracy supporters. They introduced a more “patriotic” curriculum in schools and revamped election laws to keep opposition politicians who are deemed not patriotic enough out of the city’s legislature. The changes have all but eliminated dissenting voices and have driven many to leave the city.In its view, China’s Communist Party has restored stability to a city that was wracked with demonstrations seen as a direct challenge to its rule. For Western democracies, Mr. Xi has undermined the freedoms and way of life that had distinguished the city from mainland China and made it into a global finance and trade hub.A National Security Council spokeswoman, Adrienne Watson, said in a statement that the dismantling of Hong Kong’s democratic institutions and the pressures on its judiciary, tightening control over academic and press freedoms and the disbandment of civil society groups and news outlets, had “undermined fundamental freedoms to preserve global stability.”She said that China’s policies toward Hong Kong, including the implementation of the national security law, have “shaken the institutions, rules, and systems that had been the basis of international confidence in Hong Kong.”“We call on the PRC to act in accordance with the international obligations it willingly undertook,” Ms. Watson said.Mr. Xi’s two-day trip to Hong Kong is his first outside of mainland China since the pandemic took hold in January 2020. He had last visited Hong Kong in 2017 for the handover celebrations.Security in Hong Kong has been beefed up for his arrival, with designated security and no-fly zones. Thousands of guests were required to take daily coronavirus tests and ordered to check into quarantine hotels ahead of their attendance of events with Mr. Xi on Thursday and Friday.Mr. Xi also officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong’s new leader, John Lee, a former security official who oversaw the crackdown on dissent. Mr. Lee pledged to uphold the city’s mini-constitution and bear allegiance to Hong Kong. He also pledged to be accountable to the central government in Beijing.At a morning flag-raising ceremony — attended by Mr. Lee, his predecessor Carrie Lam and other officials but not Mr. Xi — police officers carrying the Chinese and Hong Kong flags marched into Golden Bauhinia Square for the ceremony with the Chinese “goose-stepping” style, replacing a British-style march. Guests stood at attention as the Chinese national anthem was played.

Xi Defends Beijing’s Grip on Hong Kong at 25-Year Anniversary of Takeover

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