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Hong Kong, 20 Years After the Handover Hong Kong, 20 Years After the Handover
(about 1 hour later)
Right Now: China’s president, Xi Jinping, has arrived in Hong Kong for ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to Chinese rule.Right Now: China’s president, Xi Jinping, has arrived in Hong Kong for ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to Chinese rule.
■ It is Mr. Xi’s first visit to the city as president, and he is expected to offer reassurances that China still respects the “one country, two systems” arrangement, negotiated with Britain, that promised Hong Kong civil liberties and its own judicial system for 50 years.■ It is Mr. Xi’s first visit to the city as president, and he is expected to offer reassurances that China still respects the “one country, two systems” arrangement, negotiated with Britain, that promised Hong Kong civil liberties and its own judicial system for 50 years.
■ But Mr. Xi is also likely to say, symbolically or otherwise, that China will not tolerate challenges to its authority. The anniversary comes less than three years after huge pro-democracy demonstrations shut down parts of the city for months, and anti-Beijing sentiment persists, especially among the young.■ But Mr. Xi is also likely to say, symbolically or otherwise, that China will not tolerate challenges to its authority. The anniversary comes less than three years after huge pro-democracy demonstrations shut down parts of the city for months, and anti-Beijing sentiment persists, especially among the young.
■ Security is tight for Mr. Xi’s visit, and protesters have already been arrested. Joshua Wong, the best-known leader of the 2014 street demonstrations, was among a few dozen people detained by the police Wednesday night after protesting Beijing’s rule at a monument marking the 1997 handover.■ Security is tight for Mr. Xi’s visit, and protesters have already been arrested. Joshua Wong, the best-known leader of the 2014 street demonstrations, was among a few dozen people detained by the police Wednesday night after protesting Beijing’s rule at a monument marking the 1997 handover.
Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived in Hong Kong shortly after noon Thursday, disembarking from an Air China jet. They strolled down a red carpet, where they were greeted by the city’s departing chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, and Carrie Lam, who will be sworn in Saturday as Mr. Leung’s successor as Hong Kong’s top government official. Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive after the resumption of Chinese sovereignty in 1997, was also in attendance.Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived in Hong Kong shortly after noon Thursday, disembarking from an Air China jet. They strolled down a red carpet, where they were greeted by the city’s departing chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, and Carrie Lam, who will be sworn in Saturday as Mr. Leung’s successor as Hong Kong’s top government official. Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive after the resumption of Chinese sovereignty in 1997, was also in attendance.
As attendees waved the red flags of Hong Kong and China, Mr. Xi spoke briefly about the importance of the city to China.As attendees waved the red flags of Hong Kong and China, Mr. Xi spoke briefly about the importance of the city to China.
“Hong Kong has always affected my heart,” he said. “In two days it will be the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. This is a major event, a happy event, for the nation and for Hong Kong.”“Hong Kong has always affected my heart,” he said. “In two days it will be the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. This is a major event, a happy event, for the nation and for Hong Kong.”
Saying that he was happy to be in Hong Kong for the first time in nine years, he added that he hoped to experience the changes and development that have occurred in Hong Kong since his last visit.Saying that he was happy to be in Hong Kong for the first time in nine years, he added that he hoped to experience the changes and development that have occurred in Hong Kong since his last visit.
Reporters on the tarmac shouted out questions to Mr. Xi about Chinese rule and whether the Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who was recently moved from prison in northeast China to a hospital for cancer treatment, would be released. Mr. Xi did not respond.
Later in the afternoon, Mr. Xi met with Mr. Leung and praised his work over the past five years, particularly in “defending national sovereignty and security.”
Mr. Leung was the target of fierce criticism during the Umbrella Movement protests in 2014, and many demonstrators called for his resignation. Mr. Leung refused and said at the time that the protests were aided by “external forces,” but did not offer evidence.
— Austin Ramzy— Austin Ramzy
With protests expected to greet Mr. Xi during his three-day visit, the local news media reported that roughly a third of Hong Kong’s 29,000-member police force would be deployed to protect the president, his wife and the events at which they appear.With protests expected to greet Mr. Xi during his three-day visit, the local news media reported that roughly a third of Hong Kong’s 29,000-member police force would be deployed to protect the president, his wife and the events at which they appear.
But Mr. Xi’s personal security will be handled by Troop 8341, according to The South China Morning Post, which noted that the elite, secretive unit was actually composed of combat-ready troops.But Mr. Xi’s personal security will be handled by Troop 8341, according to The South China Morning Post, which noted that the elite, secretive unit was actually composed of combat-ready troops.
Mr. Xi may encounter something he rarely sees in China: open protests. Because of its status as a semiautonomous region, Hong Kong has long allowed demonstrations, which are not tolerated in mainland China. To that end, the police have taken pains to keep protesters away from Mr. Xi’s planned public appearances. Roads will be closed Saturday in the busy Wan Chai and Admiralty areas as he presides over the swearing-in of Hong Kong’s new chief executive.Mr. Xi may encounter something he rarely sees in China: open protests. Because of its status as a semiautonomous region, Hong Kong has long allowed demonstrations, which are not tolerated in mainland China. To that end, the police have taken pains to keep protesters away from Mr. Xi’s planned public appearances. Roads will be closed Saturday in the busy Wan Chai and Admiralty areas as he presides over the swearing-in of Hong Kong’s new chief executive.
— Gerry Mullany— Gerry Mullany
On Thursday morning, more than two dozen protesters remained detained in a police station 12 hours after they were arrested for climbing a statue commemorating Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.On Thursday morning, more than two dozen protesters remained detained in a police station 12 hours after they were arrested for climbing a statue commemorating Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.
The 26 protesters, including the Umbrella Movement leaders Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, on Wednesday evening occupied the Golden Bauhinia Statue, at a square where the Chinese president will attend a flag-raising ceremony on Saturday. They called for the immediate release of Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his writings promoting democracy and who recently left prison for cancer treatment. The 26 protesters, including the Umbrella Movement leaders Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, on Wednesday evening occupied the Golden Bauhinia Statue, at a square where the Chinese president will attend a flag-raising ceremony on Saturday. They called for the immediate release of Mr. Liu.
“Genuine universal suffrage! Free Liu Xiaobo unconditionally!” they chanted as hundreds of mostly mainland Chinese tourists looked on.“Genuine universal suffrage! Free Liu Xiaobo unconditionally!” they chanted as hundreds of mostly mainland Chinese tourists looked on.
Shocked by the display of defiance — such free expression is severely restricted in mainland China — many of the tourists immediately took out their phones to take photos and videos, even though many of them had never heard of Mr. Liu. Shocked by the display of defiance — such free expression is severely restricted in mainland China — many tourists immediately took out their phones to take photos and videos, even though many had never heard of Mr. Liu.
“Who is Liu Xiaobo?” a woman from Anhui Province, in east-central China, said when I approached her. “This is so scary.” “Who is Liu Xiaobo?” a woman from Anhui Province, in east-central China, asked when I approached her. “This is so scary.”
— Alan Wong— Alan Wong
At the heart of Hong Kong’s special status as a semiautonomous territory is the Basic Law, the agreement signed 20 years ago between Britain and China assuring that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy, and its capitalist financial and legal system, for 50 years. “China Resumes Control of Hong Kong,” The New York Times announced on its front page on July 1, 1997, with another three pages of coverage inside. The reporter Edward A. Gargan described the painstakingly negotiated ceremony for the transfer of sovereignty, attended by Prince Charles and President Jiang Zemin of China:
Nicholas D. Kristof considered how mainland China would be shaped by the return: “Most analysts predict that China in 20 years’ time will look more like Hong Kong today than Hong Kong will look like China today.”
— Jennifer Jett
At the heart of Hong Kong’s special status as a semiautonomous territory is the Basic Law, the agreement signed 20 years ago between Britain and China assuring that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy, and its capitalist financial system and independent legal structure, for 50 years.
Critics say that in recent years Beijing has been undermining the spirit if not the letter of the Basic Law, by cracking down on press freedoms in Hong Kong and meddling in the selection of the territory’s leaders.Critics say that in recent years Beijing has been undermining the spirit if not the letter of the Basic Law, by cracking down on press freedoms in Hong Kong and meddling in the selection of the territory’s leaders.
Here is the text of the Basic Law governing Beijing’s relationship to Hong Kong, which assures that the territory “will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People’s Government.”Here is the text of the Basic Law governing Beijing’s relationship to Hong Kong, which assures that the territory “will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People’s Government.”
— Gerry Mullany— Gerry Mullany
In a video posted earlier this week, the Hong Kong police sought to justify the extraordinary lengths to which they have gone to shield Chinese and local officials from planned protests. In a video posted this week, the Hong Kong police sought to justify the extraordinary lengths to which they have gone to shield Chinese and local officials from planned protests.
Among the measures is the erection of large plastic barriers filled with water, seen here as they were being placed along routes the leaders will probably take as they move between the festivities. Among the measures is the erection of large plastic barriers filled with water, seen here as they were being placed along routes the leaders will probably take as they move among the festivities.
The police explained the security measures as reflective of their concerns over terrorist attacks. The police said the security measures reflected their concerns over terrorist attacks.
“Recently, the world has been shocked by terrorist attacks of cars plowing into crowds,” an officer says in the video. “These ‘water barriers’ can ensure the safety of the public and the important officials.”“Recently, the world has been shocked by terrorist attacks of cars plowing into crowds,” an officer says in the video. “These ‘water barriers’ can ensure the safety of the public and the important officials.”
But the barriers are more likely meant to shield the leaders from the expected protests. “Does that mean that all the people of Hong Kong are terrorists?” commented one Facebook user. But the barriers are more likely meant to shield the leaders from expected protests. “Does that mean that all the people of Hong Kong are terrorists?” one Facebook user commented.