As Xi Jinping, the leader of China, visits Hong Kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the British tradition, he arrives in a city that has changed a lot since three years ago, when millions took to the streets in the biggest challenge for Beijing sovereignty for decades. Mr Xi ‘s ruling Communist Party canceled the challenge by tightening its grip. Authorities in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. “This is an important journey for him,” said John P. Burns, an emeritus professor of politics at the University of Hong Kong. “Of course, this is a celebration of the 25th anniversary and all that, but it also proclaims victory over the pan-democratic opposition and its supporters.” On Friday, Mr. Xi appointed a selected former security official as the city’s next leader. He had earlier met with lawmakers elected following Beijing’s election review, which ensured that only “patriots” could run for office in Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Chinese officials attended a brief ceremony Friday morning, where an honorary police guard hoisted the Chinese and Hong Kong flags to mark the anniversary. A strong wind was blowing and the sky was cloudy and threatening rain. A government helicopter with a large Chinese flag, followed by another with a smaller Hong Kong flag, flew to Victoria Harbor as the ceremony took place at 8 a.m., followed by a firefighting boat that sprayed water from its pipes. But the grandeur and ceremony were in stark contrast to the relative quietness of the streets in the presence of strong security. Groups of police patrolled neighborhoods near the ceremony site and rows of police vans lined up at the entrances of several metro stations. For many Hong Kong residents, the surrender anniversary and Mr. Xi’s visit were of little importance except for one day off. “The central government does not need to do much for Hong Kong. Just let Hong Kong fix things for itself. Is a free economy right? It has not been governed much before, “said Joeson Kwak, a 33-year-old interior design contractor based in the Wanchai area for breakfast. “I do not feel anything special today. “I’m glad I do not have to go to work today.” Mr Xi’s visit is both a message aimed at strengthening Beijing’s sovereignty over Hong Kong to the city’s 7.5 million people and a message of contempt for Western governments that have denounced his repression. The United States, Britain and other nations have accused China of failing to deliver on its promise to allow Hong Kong to maintain its civil rights protections for 50 years under an agreement known as one country, two systems. Hong Kong’s submission is also of personal importance to Mr Xi. He will help highlight his position among the Communist Party elite at a pivotal moment as he seeks a third five-year term in power, which he is widely expected to secure later this year. “We can expect the party congress in October to highlight the success of a country, two systems,” said Sonny Lo, a Hong Kong political commentator. For local activists, July 1 was an anniversary of key demonstrations. But a combination of pandemic restrictions and political repression has largely eliminated such concentrations. A left-wing group, the Union of Social Democrats, continued to mark important dates with small demonstrations of just four people, which is technically allowed under the rules of social distancing. But after visits by national security police, the group announced this week that it would not protest on Friday. Members of the group were under constant surveillance and their organization was threatened with closure if they tried to protest, said Avery Ng, the group’s secretary general. “It’s just like China,” he said.
title: “Xi Visits A Hong Kong Transformed By Crackdown Live Updates " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-12” author: “Ruby Johnson”
As Xi Jinping, the leader of China, visits Hong Kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the British tradition, he arrives in a city that has changed a lot since three years ago, when millions took to the streets in the biggest challenge for Beijing sovereignty for decades. Mr Xi ‘s ruling Communist Party canceled the challenge by tightening its grip. Authorities in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. “This is an important journey for him,” said John P. Burns, an emeritus professor of politics at the University of Hong Kong. “Of course, this is a celebration of the 25th anniversary and all that, but it also proclaims victory over the pan-democratic opposition and its supporters.” On Friday, Mr. Xi appointed a selected former security official as the city’s next leader. He had earlier met with lawmakers elected following Beijing’s election review, which ensured that only “patriots” could run for office in Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Chinese officials attended a brief ceremony Friday morning, where an honorary police guard hoisted the Chinese and Hong Kong flags to mark the anniversary. A strong wind was blowing and the sky was cloudy and threatening rain. A government helicopter with a large Chinese flag, followed by another with a smaller Hong Kong flag, flew to Victoria Harbor as the ceremony took place at 8 a.m., followed by a firefighting boat that sprayed water from its pipes. But the grandeur and ceremony were in stark contrast to the relative quietness of the streets in the presence of strong security. Groups of police patrolled neighborhoods near the ceremony site and rows of police vans lined up at the entrances of several metro stations. For many Hong Kong residents, the surrender anniversary and Mr. Xi’s visit were of little importance except for one day off. “The central government does not need to do much for Hong Kong. Just let Hong Kong fix things for itself. Is a free economy right? It has not been governed much before, “said Joeson Kwak, a 33-year-old interior design contractor based in the Wanchai area for breakfast. “I do not feel anything special today. “I’m glad I do not have to go to work today.” Mr Xi’s visit is both a message aimed at strengthening Beijing’s sovereignty over Hong Kong to the city’s 7.5 million people and a message of contempt for Western governments that have denounced his repression. The United States, Britain and other nations have accused China of failing to deliver on its promise to allow Hong Kong to maintain its civil rights protections for 50 years under an agreement known as one country, two systems. Hong Kong’s submission is also of personal importance to Mr Xi. He will help highlight his position among the Communist Party elite at a pivotal moment as he seeks a third five-year term in power, which he is widely expected to secure later this year. “We can expect the party congress in October to highlight the success of a country, two systems,” said Sonny Lo, a Hong Kong political commentator. For local activists, July 1 was an anniversary of key demonstrations. But a combination of pandemic restrictions and political repression has largely eliminated such concentrations. A left-wing group, the Union of Social Democrats, continued to mark important dates with small demonstrations of just four people, which is technically allowed under the rules of social distancing. But after visits by national security police, the group announced this week that it would not protest on Friday. Members of the group were under constant surveillance and their organization was threatened with closure if they tried to protest, said Avery Ng, the group’s secretary general. “It’s just like China,” he said.
title: “Xi Visits A Hong Kong Transformed By Crackdown Live Updates " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “Allen Raebel”
As Xi Jinping, the leader of China, visits Hong Kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the British tradition, he arrives in a city that has changed a lot since three years ago, when millions took to the streets in the biggest challenge for Beijing sovereignty for decades. Mr Xi ‘s ruling Communist Party canceled the challenge by tightening its grip. Authorities in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. “This is an important journey for him,” said John P. Burns, an emeritus professor of politics at the University of Hong Kong. “Of course, this is a celebration of the 25th anniversary and all that, but it also proclaims victory over the pan-democratic opposition and its supporters.” On Friday, Mr. Xi appointed a selected former security official as the city’s next leader. He had earlier met with lawmakers elected following Beijing’s election review, which ensured that only “patriots” could run for office in Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Chinese officials attended a brief ceremony Friday morning, where an honorary police guard hoisted the Chinese and Hong Kong flags to mark the anniversary. A strong wind was blowing and the sky was cloudy and threatening rain. A government helicopter with a large Chinese flag, followed by another with a smaller Hong Kong flag, flew to Victoria Harbor as the ceremony took place at 8 a.m., followed by a firefighting boat that sprayed water from its pipes. But the grandeur and ceremony were in stark contrast to the relative quietness of the streets in the presence of strong security. Groups of police patrolled neighborhoods near the ceremony site and rows of police vans lined up at the entrances of several metro stations. For many Hong Kong residents, the surrender anniversary and Mr. Xi’s visit were of little importance except for one day off. “The central government does not need to do much for Hong Kong. Just let Hong Kong fix things for itself. Is a free economy right? It has not been governed much before, “said Joeson Kwak, a 33-year-old interior design contractor based in the Wanchai area for breakfast. “I do not feel anything special today. “I’m glad I do not have to go to work today.” Mr Xi’s visit is both a message aimed at strengthening Beijing’s sovereignty over Hong Kong to the city’s 7.5 million people and a message of contempt for Western governments that have denounced his repression. The United States, Britain and other nations have accused China of failing to deliver on its promise to allow Hong Kong to maintain its civil rights protections for 50 years under an agreement known as one country, two systems. Hong Kong’s submission is also of personal importance to Mr Xi. He will help highlight his position among the Communist Party elite at a pivotal moment as he seeks a third five-year term in power, which he is widely expected to secure later this year. “We can expect the party congress in October to highlight the success of a country, two systems,” said Sonny Lo, a Hong Kong political commentator. For local activists, July 1 was an anniversary of key demonstrations. But a combination of pandemic restrictions and political repression has largely eliminated such concentrations. A left-wing group, the Union of Social Democrats, continued to mark important dates with small demonstrations of just four people, which is technically allowed under the rules of social distancing. But after visits by national security police, the group announced this week that it would not protest on Friday. Members of the group were under constant surveillance and their organization was threatened with closure if they tried to protest, said Avery Ng, the group’s secretary general. “It’s just like China,” he said.
