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Xi Jinping in Hong Kong: Tight security as city marks 25 years of handover Xi Jinping in Hong Kong: Xi Jinping defends China's rule of Hong Kong
(about 2 hours later)
Xi Jinping is in Hong Kong to mark 25 years of handover Mr Xi (right) was greeted by Hong Kong's new chief executive John Lee
Hong Kong is under tight security as it marks 25 years of handover with Chinese President Xi Jinping in attendance. China's "one country two systems" model of ruling Hong Kong has worked in protecting the city and must continue long term, says Xi Jinping.
This is Mr Xi's first trip outside of mainland China since early 2020, at the start of the Covid pandemic. The Chinese leader mounted a stern defence of the political system in a speech in Hong Kong, following recent international criticism.
He will be present as former police chief John Lee is sworn in as Hong Kong's new chief executive. Hong Kong is marking 25 years since Britain returned the city to China.
Mr Lee replaces Carrie Lam, a contentious leader under whom Hong Kong saw huge pro-democracy protests and China's influence grew. It is under tight security as it hosts Mr Xi, who is on his first trip outside of the mainland in two years.
Every year on 1 July, Hong Kong marks the day when it was returned from British to Chinese rule. Under "one country two systems", Hong Kong is supposed to be governed in a way that gives it a high degree of autonomy and protects freedom of speech and assembly, and other rights not found in mainland China.
As part of the handover agreement, China agreed the city would enjoy "a high degree of autonomy" for the next 50 years and would retain certain freedoms. But in recent years China has been criticised for increasing its control of Hong Kong and enacting laws and reforms that stifle free speech and dissent.
But 25 years later, Beijing's control over the territory is increasing and the UK accuses China of failing to meet the commitments it made.
The anniversary itself was often marked by protests but these have been muted since the introduction in 2020 of a security law that has stifled free speech and dissent.
Various official events celebrating the handover will be held across the city on Friday, a public holiday. They typically culminate in a firework display over Victoria Harbour.
Mr Xi's visit this year - the first to Hong Kong since the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2017 - has led to the city deploying plain clothes officers and "special constables" drafted from prison guards and immigration forces, reports BBC Chinese's Martin Yip.
The flags of China and Hong Kong are displayed over the convention centre
An Omicron outbreak earlier this year in Hong Kong fuelled doubts over whether Mr Xi, who has personally championed China's zero Covid policy, would cancel his visit.
But he arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday via a high-speed train. He was greeted by outgoing chief executive Carrie Lam who spent her last day in office in Covid quarantine before she met Mr Xi.
He gave a brief speech saying Hong Kong had "risen from the ashes" after a series of challenges.
Although details of his itinerary have not been made public, reports said he crossed the border again to spend the night in the nearby city of Shenzhen before returning to Hong Kong on Friday, where he is expected to deliver a keynote speech.
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He will also formally appoint Mr Lee, known for his tough pro-Beijing views, as chief executive. The "one, country, two systems" principle arose out of an agreement between Britain and China and is enshrined in law in Hong Kong. But the protections run out in 2047, a deadline which many in Hong Kong have long been worried about.
Mr Lee had got the top job through an uncontested election - a sore point for many Hongkongers who say China has gone back on its promise to make the process fully democratic eventually. But on Friday Mr Xi said it "must be adhered to over the long run" - the clearest sign yet that China intends to preserve the political model, which critics say has already been compromised to suit Beijing.
His new 21-member cabinet, heavily staffed by pro-Beijing leaders, includes three who have been sanctioned by the US for "undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly" of its people. Flanked by the Chinese and Hong Kong flags on stage, Mr Xi defended the system as having worked in protecting Hong Kong's prosperity and stability as well as China's "fundamental interests" in the past 25 years.
China's increasing control of Hong Kong has drawn criticism from the West. "'One country, two systems' has been tested and proved time and again, and there is no reason to change such a good system," he said, to applause from the audience comprising of the city's pro-Beijing elite.
He added that it had the "unanimous endorsement" of residents and "widespread approval" by the international community.
But Hong Kong has seen huge pro-democracy protests over the years and many, including Western countries, have criticised Beijing's growing interference in the city.
In 2020, China introduced a controversial national security law that has clamped down on free speech and dissent. This prompted Britain to accuse China of violating the "one country two systems" principle and their agreement.
"We're not giving up on Hong Kong," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday."We're not giving up on Hong Kong," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday.
"Twenty-five years ago we made a promise to the territory and its people and we intend to keep it, doing all we can to hold China to its commitments so that Hong Kong is once again run by the people of Hong Kong, for the people of Hong Kong.""Twenty-five years ago we made a promise to the territory and its people and we intend to keep it, doing all we can to hold China to its commitments so that Hong Kong is once again run by the people of Hong Kong, for the people of Hong Kong."
The handover from British to Chinese rule China's recent electoral reforms designed to ensure only "patriots" can run for office in Hong Kong have also been heavily criticised.
This year's anniversary comes as Beijing's grip on Hong Kong has tightened, most visible perhaps in the city's adherence to the so-called "zero Covid" strategy. But Mr Xi strongly defended this move on Friday, saying that it was "essential for safeguarding the long-term stability and security of Hong Kong" and that "at no time should this principle be allowed to be compromised".
Even as much of the world opened up, Hong Kong stuck to the unyielding policy followed by mainland China to try to stamp out the virus, despite the economic toll. The flags of China and Hong Kong are displayed over the convention centre where Mr Xi spoke
In the two years since the national security law came into effect, Hong Kong's authorities have also been increasingly cracking down on dissent. The sweeping law criminalises any activities seen as supporting secession, subversion or collusion with foreign forces, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. At the same event, Mr Xi also formally appointed John Lee, a former security chief known for his tough pro-Beijing views, as the new chief executive.
Only Beijing-approved candidates are able to stand in local elections, many pro-democracy media outlets have closed and free speech has been curtailed. Mr Lee had got the top job through an uncontested election - a sore point for many Hongkongers who say China has gone back on its promise to make the process fully democratic eventually.
Mr Lee's new 21-member cabinet was also sworn in. It is heavily staffed by pro-Beijing leaders, including three who have been sanctioned by the US for "undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly" of its people.
Various official events celebrating the handover will be held across the city on Friday, a public holiday. They typically culminate in a firework display over Victoria Harbour.
Mr Xi's visit this year - the first to Hong Kong since the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2017 - has led to the city deploying plain clothes officers and "special constables" drafted from prison guards and immigration forces, reports BBC Chinese's Martin Yip.
An Omicron outbreak earlier this year in Hong Kong fuelled doubts over whether Mr Xi, who has personally championed China's zero Covid policy, would cancel his visit.
But he arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday via a high-speed train where he met outgoing chief executive Carrie Lam.
Security personnel have been deployed across the city for the handover anniversarySecurity personnel have been deployed across the city for the handover anniversary
Hong Kong was handed back from British to Chinese rule in 1997, at the end of a 99-year lease.
It was agreed that Hong Kong would be governed by a unique "one country, two systems" principle that guaranteed freedom of assembly and an independent judiciary for the next 50 years.
But critics says the national security law goes against that promise by effectively reducing Hong Kong's judicial autonomy and allowing authorities to stamp out protest or dissent.
In a recent interview, Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong said it was "heart breaking" to see the city's transformation.
"It's fair to say for 10 years after 1997, maybe a bit longer, things did not go too badly wrong, but they've gone downhill since, partly because [Mr] Xi and his colleagues are terrified of what Hong Kong actually stands for," he said at a press conference.
"I do believe that Hong Kong is a great city. I hope it will be a great city again."
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