“No other country or country in the world would allow non-patriots, or even those who commit treason, to take the helm of their governments,” the Chinese president added in his first major speech in Hong Kong on Friday. his last. visit to the area five years ago. Hong Kong was rocked by large and sometimes violent pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, culminating in a stern new security law. “Hong Kong and Macao should be able to maintain their capitalist system for a long time, with a high level of autonomy,” Xi said. “But all the people of Hong Kong should be able to respect and protect the fundamental socialist system of the nation.” In his first speech as chief executive, Li said the city had outgrown “foreign forces interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs that threatened the country’s national security.” “With the firm support of the central government, Hong Kong is able to start from scratch,” he added. Xi promised “his government’s support for Hong Kong’s status as a financial and commercial hub.” But neither he nor Lee immediately unveiled new policies to boost Hong Kong’s economy – or ease the seven-day quarantine requirement for incoming travelers that many executives have been pushing for. The inauguration, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the return of the former UK colony to Chinese rule in 1997, came a day after Xi arrived in Hong Kong on his first visit outside mainland China since the start of the Covid pandemic. in Wuhan two and a half years ago. However, Xi’s visit on Thursday was relatively short and he took a train across the border to spend the night in Shenzhen, according to people who were informed of his route. He returned to Hong Kong on Friday morning for the swearing-in of Lee, a career police officer and security official who played a key role in crushing pro-democracy protests that swept the city. The unusual deal reflected Beijing’s concerns about a recent rise in Covid cases in Hong Kong as well as potential security risks despite the growing security presence across the country in recent days. “The central government has destroyed autonomy in Hong Kong. It is not completely gone, but it is diminishing while [Xi] “Basically, it wants to continue Hong Kong’s economic position,” said John P Burns, an emeritus professor of politics at the University of Hong Kong. “The business community likes security, as long as they are free to do whatever it takes to make money.” Xi did not attend a traditional outdoor flag-raising ceremony with Lee and his predecessor, Carrie Lam, despite strong winds and a hurricane warning. He returned to Shenzhen in the afternoon, having spent only about 10 hours in Hong Kong in the two days. None of Lee’s four predecessors, which included a tycoon, two career civil servants and a loyal Beijing supporter, were able to serve the two full, five-year terms allowed under Hong Kong’s Mini Basic Constitution. Li’s ministerial group was also sworn in by Xi, after which they turned to the president one by one and bowed before him. At least 10 journalists from local and foreign media were excluded from official events due to “security concerns”, according to the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, accused Beijing on Thursday that “[threatening] The rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents “in a video clip posted on Twitter, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the Beijing and Hong Kong authorities for ignoring” democratic participation and fundamental freedoms and independent media ”in a statement. “Twenty-five years ago we made a promise to the territory and its people and we intend to keep it,” Johnson said. “We are doing everything we can to keep China in its commitments, so that Hong Kong is once again ruled by the people of Hong Kong, for the people of Hong Kong.” Accounting firm BDO, colonial-era Swire and Jardine Matheson groups and casino groups Wynn Macau and Melco were among the companies that sent congratulatory messages on Xi’s visit to ads in local newspapers in favor of Beijing on Friday. Additional references by William Langley, Cheng Leng and Hudson Lockett in Hong Kong Video: The future of Hong Kong as the economic center of Asia FT film