So Xi reiterated China’s dominance over Hong Kong. Guardian Report
Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured that democracy is in excellent health in Hong Kong, despite the repressive squeeze. The Guardian in-depth study
Xi Jinping recalled China's dominance over Hong Kong on the occasion of the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the city's passage from Britain, insisting that democracy is flourishing despite political repression that has silenced dissent.
After taking an oath in a solemn ceremony Friday morning with the new chief executive, John Lee, the Chinese president exposed his vision of the city and its administrators.
On his first trip out of mainland China since the start of the pandemic, he swore that "one country, two systems" – a governance model under which Hong Kong was promised to maintain some autonomy and freedom for 50 years – would remain in effect.
"For this kind of good system, there is no reason to change it, it has to be maintained in the long term," Xi said, referring to "one country, two systems", while critics wondered whether high-level autonomy promise to the city was still intact – writes the Guardian .
"After much turmoil, people have learned a painful lesson: Hong Kong can't be messy, it can't afford to be messy," he said. "Stability has been restored."
The past three years have seen an unprecedented curtailment of freedoms in Hong Kong due to the national security law imposed by Beijing, which has seen the incarceration of numerous pro-democracy activists, journalists and opposition politicians.
In what was described as an "important speech" by Chinese state media, Xi called on Hong Kong residents to contribute to the "great resurgence of the Chinese race" and reiterated that Beijing has always acted "for the good of Hong Kong. ".
In a separate speech, new chief executive Lee, also a former security minister, cited major protests from the pro-democracy movement as challenges the city has overcome, while Xi said introducing legislation on the national security and the renewed "patriots only" electoral system have safeguarded the democratic rights of the people of Hong Kong.
During the swearing-in ceremonies, all officials, including Xi, wore masks and stood at least three feet apart. They didn't shake hands. Xi will return to mainland China on Friday afternoon, after staying less than 24 hours.
Prior to the start of the highly choreographic ceremony, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that Beijing did not abide by the "one country, two systems" agreement agreed under the agreement it established. end of British colonial rule in 1997.
Johnson promised not to "give up" on Hong Kong: "It is a state of affairs that threatens both the rights and freedoms of Hong Kongers and the continued progress and prosperity of their country."
Blinken said Friday should have been the intermediate step of 50 years of promised autonomy within one country, two systems, "but it is now evident that the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing no longer consider democratic participation, fundamental freedoms. and the independence of the media as part of this vision ”.
"The authorities imprisoned the opposition … broke into independent media organizations … weakened democratic institutions and delayed elections," Blinken said. "They did all of this in an attempt to deprive Hong Kong citizens of what they were promised."
Blinken added that a strict security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020 led to an "erosion of autonomy": "We stand in solidarity with the citizens of Hong Kong and strengthen their demands for the restoration of promised freedoms."
The handover anniversary events began with a brief flag-raising ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, a place surrounded by huge police barricades. In the past, Hong Kong activists had gathered outside the ceremony, but this year the National Security Police had warned them not to protest.
Security was tight throughout the city. The Hong Kong Police Counter-Terrorism Response Unit was deployed in Wan Chai, accompanied by armored vehicles.
Officers also patrolled the area and conducted spot checks on vehicles. Media personnel had to hand over umbrellas before entering events, as well as having to search and inspect their personal belongings. The object has been a symbol of the pro-democracy movement since 2014.
Meanwhile, the police have ordered members of the League of Social Democrats, a group of activists, not to organize any protests on 1 July, after questioning them and ransacking their homes.
Former League president Avery Ng told the Guardian he saw a squad of plainclothes police outside his building, likening the situation to house arrest. "Obviously, this is very similar to what happens on land, on significant days one is 'invited' to keep quiet, or perhaps 'invited' to take a trip," said Ng.
An unprecedented scrutiny was also applied to reporters covering the events of July 1. Only government-selected media could physically participate in the events. The Hong Kong Association of Journalists said around 10 media workers from various outlets, including the South China Morning Post , were banned from the events for "security reasons".
During the inauguration ceremony, both Xi and Lee stressed the need for Hong Kong to attract foreign capital.
On Thursday, Xi told a select crowd in Hong Kong that the region has "risen from the ashes".
"My heart and that of the central government have been with our Hong Kong compatriots," he said, according to the translation of the South China Morning Post . In recent years, Hong Kong has faced several difficult challenges one after another and has overcome them ”.
"After the wind and rain, Hong Kong has risen from the ashes and has shown strong vitality."
Lee pledged to unite the city for "a new chapter," while promising an even more aggressive approach to counter the "fears and gossips" of critics.
Ahead of Friday's events, Boris Johnson said he will seek to continue enforcing China's commitments under the "one country, two systems" model, so that Hong Kong is "run again by the people of Hong Kong. , for the people of Hong Kong ”. He said Britain's immigration route for British (overseas) passport holders attracted 120,000 applications last year.
British Foreign Minister Liz Truss echoed Johnson's comments and said: “The authorities stifled the opposition, criminalized dissent and kicked out anyone who could tell the truth in power.
“The UK's historic commitment to Hong Kong and its people does not fail. For this reason, we continue to criticize China for violating the legally binding commitments undertaken with the Joint Declaration.
"We recalled their conduct on the world stage and joined our G7 partners in condemning the continuing erosion of Hong Kong's political and civil rights and autonomy."
Australia also criticized China for restricting the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens. "Australia remains deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of Hong Kong's rights, freedoms and autonomy two years after the imposition of the National Security Act," said Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
(Extract from the press review of eprcomunicazione)
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/visita-xi-jinping-hong-kong-25-anniversario/ on Sat, 02 Jul 2022 06:23:37 +0000.