Chinese President Xi Jinping led the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Britain’s surrender of the city on Friday, praising Beijing’s rule over the Kong and said democracy was flourishing despite a crackdown that silenced opposition.
At the ceremony, which included the inauguration of Hong Kong’s new government, Xi stressed the Chinese Communist Party’s control over the city after a strong crackdown on the local pro-democracy movement.
Since Beijing passed a national security law in 2020, the opposition has been overthrown and many pro-democracy people have fled the city, been removed from power or detained.
But Xi said in his speech that Beijing always acts “for the good of Hong Kong”.
“After reuniting with the motherland, the people of Hong Kong became masters of their own city,” he said. “Hong Kong’s true democracy has begun right now.”
Xi is traveling outside of mainland China for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and visiting Hong Kong for the first time since the major protests in 2019.
Friday’s celebrations began with a flag ceremony and the parade of military aircraft as well as a naval squadron.
Xi did not attend the event. Local media reported that he spent the night in Shenzhen, China, and returned to Hong Kong on Friday morning.
erosion of autonomy
This Friday also marks the midpoint of a system known as “One Country, Two Systems” in the 50-year model of government that the UK and China have agreed upon and Hong Kong will retain autonomy and fundamental freedoms.
The anniversary of the British revolution was an example of these freedoms in action.
For decades, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at a rally every 1 July to express their political and social criticism.
But the protest, like other crowded events in Hong Kong, has been banned for the past two years due to pandemic restrictions and new security measures.
Critics point out that the crackdown, reinforced by a national security law implemented by Beijing in 2020, has broken China’s promise that it will maintain Hong Kong’s way of life after the transfer between the UK and China.
“We have made a promise to the region and its people, and we intend to keep that promise by doing everything possible to ensure that China lives up to its commitments,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday. said.
In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken lamented the “erosion of autonomy” in the city. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong and strengthen calls for the return of promises of freedom.”
Taiwan Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said that freedom and democracy have disappeared in Hong Kong.
However, Xi insisted that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle is a “good system”.
“There is no reason to change and it needs to be sustained over the long term,” he said, before arguing that the system protects “the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Closed circuit
Xi’s visit takes place in a closely monitored closed-loop system.
Those who entered the president’s orbit – from children who greeted him at the train station to high-ranking government officials – had to limit social contacts, have daily PCR tests, and spend days in a quarantine hotel.
Authorities also announced the arrest of nine people last week.
More than 10 members and volunteers of the League of Social Democrats (LSD), one of the few remaining opposition groups in Hong Kong, were banned from protesting, and six members said their homes were visited by security forces.
However, authorities are trying to present the image of public support for the celebrations with banners proclaiming a new era of “stability, prosperity, opportunity” across the city.
source: Noticias
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