Pro-democracy protests had become a tradition in Hong Kong on July 1st, the date on which China resumed control. That tradition is now over
rarely go to Hong Kong. Xi Jinping’s visit on June 30th and July 1st for official celebrations marking thefrom Britain to China was only his second since his rule began nearly a decade ago. It was his first since the territory was engulfed by pro-democracy unrest in 2019. Since then, he said after getting off his train, Hong Kong had “risen from the ashes”. In a speech the next day he said Hong Kong wasof “order and prosperity”.
Mr Xi’s previous trip, in 2017, was also to celebrate the anniversary of the territory’s handover. He clearly sensed then that trouble was afoot, warning that “any attempt to endanger China’s sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government” or to “use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage against the mainland” would be considered “an act that touches the red line”.
So during his latest visit Mr Xi had reason to be cheerful—there was no risk at all that his presence would be upstaged by the Communist Party’s critics. His main duty was to attend the swearing-in of a new government for the territory. It is headed by John Lee, formerly the security chief.
In his speech at the ceremony, Mr Xi said the security law and electoral changes had ensured that “patriots” would run Hong Kong—a term used in China to mean people who back the party. He said all citizens must “respect and support the country’s system”, which, he spelled out, involved socialism under the party’s leadership. Nowhere in the world would citizens allow people who are unpatriotic or traitors to hold political power, Mr Xi said.
Mr Lee’s speech echoed Mr Xi’s sentiments. He made no promise of political reform. He praised the central government for helping the territory to overcome “each and every challenge”, including “the riots and violence in 2019” and “interference in Hong Kong’s affairs by external forces which threatened our national security”. Now, he said, Hong Kong was “at a new starting line”. He is right. But the road ahead is unlikely to be as filled with “vibrancy” and “hope” as he predicts.
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