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| Hong Kong, 20 Years After the Handover | Hong Kong, 20 Years After the Handover |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| China’s president, Xi Jinping, is in Hong Kong for ceremonies commemorating 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 described Hong Kong as a place that “always affected my heart.” He is expected to offer reassurances that China still respects the “one country, two systems” arrangement that promised Hong Kong civil liberties and its own judicial system for 50 years. | |
| ■ But Mr. Xi is also likely to signal that China will not tolerate challenges to its authority. | ■ But Mr. Xi is also likely to signal that China will not tolerate challenges to its authority. |
| ■ Some pro-democracy demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday, including Joshua Wong, a leader of the 2014 street demonstrations that shut down parts of the city for months. They were detained, some for more than 30 hours, and released on Friday. | |
| Mr. Xi visited a People’s Liberation Army base on Friday in the New Territories of Hong Kong, reviewing troops as he rode in the back of military jeep, highlighting the most potent symbol of Chinese sovereignty in the territory. It was the largest such military display by Chinese soldiers in Hong Kong since they arrived 20 years ago. | |
| When Britain handed Hong Kong back to China on July 1, 1997, 4,000 People’s Liberation Army soldiers crossed the border in boats, aircraft and armored personnel carriers to establish control. It was just eight years after soldiers killed hundreds of protesters in Beijing during the crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protest movement. While some Hong Kong residents welcomed the military with garlands and waving flags, others said they were worried. | |
| In the two decades since, China’s military has maintained a largely symbolic presence in Hong Kong. Troops are seldom seen in uniform off base, and visiting sailors from the United States and other navies are far more conspicuous on the streets of Hong Kong during port calls. | |
| The Chinese military is expected to take on a more prominent role in Hong Kong. This month Yuan Yubai, the commanding officer of China’s southern military command, and Wei Liang, the political commissar, wrote in a leading Communist Party journal that the Hong Kong garrison should move beyond its symbolic function. | |
| “The garrison will always declare sovereignty as its first and fundamental task,” they wrote in Qiu Shi, or Seeking Truth. But it must change “from being a good model to a force that has the ability to win battles.” | |
| A powerful display of the military’s presence will come in just over one week, when China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, will visit Hong Kong as part of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover. | |
| Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived in Hong Kong shortly after noon on 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 to succeed Mr. Leung as Hong Kong’s top government official. Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive after the resumption of Chinese rule in 1997, was also present. | Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived in Hong Kong shortly after noon on 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 to succeed Mr. Leung as Hong Kong’s top government official. Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive after the resumption of Chinese rule in 1997, was also present. |
| 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, Mr. Xi 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, Mr. Xi 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 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. | Reporters on the tarmac shouted 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.” | 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 he did not offer evidence. | 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 he did not offer evidence. |
| — Austin Ramzy | — Austin Ramzy |
| 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 scheduled public appearances. Roads will be closed on 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 scheduled public appearances. Roads will be closed on Saturday in the busy Wan Chai and Admiralty areas as he presides over the swearing-in of Hong Kong’s new chief executive. |
| 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 composed of combat-ready troops. | 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 composed of combat-ready troops. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The police said the security measures reflected 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 said 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 said 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 expected protests. “Does that mean that all the people of Hong Kong are terrorists?” one Facebook user commented. | 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. |
| — Gerry Mullany | — Gerry Mullany |
| Mr. Wong, perhaps the best-known leader of the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement, and more than two dozen other activists were arrested Wednesday night and remained in police custody until Friday. | Mr. Wong, perhaps the best-known leader of the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement, and more than two dozen other activists were arrested Wednesday night and remained in police custody until Friday. |
| They were arrested after climbing the Golden Bauhinia Statue commemorating Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. The statue is in the square where the Chinese president will attend a flag-raising ceremony on Saturday. | |
| The protesters called for the immediate release of Mr. Liu. | The protesters 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 tourists immediately took out their phones to take photographs and videos, even though many 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 photographs and videos, even though many had never heard of Mr. Liu. |
| “Who is Liu Xiaobo?” a woman from Anhui Province, in east-central China, asked 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 |
| “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: | “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.” | 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 | — Jennifer Jett |
| The Basic Law, an agreement signed 20 years ago by Britain and China, says that Hong Kong will retain a high degree of autonomy, and its capitalist financial system and independent legal structure, for 50 years. | The Basic Law, an agreement signed 20 years ago by Britain and China, says that Hong Kong will 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 says 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 says 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 |