China’s “one-world two-state solution” to rule Hong Kong has worked to protect the city and must continue for a long time, Xi Jinping said. However Hong Kong Citizens feels succumbed under China’s despotic rule.
The Chinese leader strongly defended the political system in his speech in Hong Kong, following recent international criticism.
Hong Kong celebrates 25 years since Britain returned the city to China.
It is under strict security as it hosts Mr Xi, who is on his first overseas trip in two years.
Under the “one-party system”, Hong Kong should be governed in a manner that gives it the highest level of autonomy and protects the freedom of speech and association, and other rights not available in China.
But in recent years China has been criticized for increasing its control over Hong Kong and for passing laws and reforms that restrict free speech and protests.
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The principle of “one, two-state solution” emerged from the agreement between Britain and China and enshrined in law in Hong Kong. The defense ended in 2047, a deadline that many in Hong Kong have long been concerned about.
On Friday, Mr Xi said “it must be followed in time” – a clear sign for now that China intends to maintain a political model, which critics say has already been put at risk to compromise with Beijing.
Inspected by Chinese and Hong Kong flags on stage, Mr Xi defended the program as having worked to protect the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and China’s “significant interests” over the past 25 years.
“‘One country two programs’ have been tested and proven many times, and there is no reason to change such a good system,” he said, applauding the audience, which includes a large number of supporters in Beijing.
He further added that the program “has the unanimous approval of citizens” and “universal recognition” by the international community, and that “Hong Kong’s true democracy began” when it returned to China.
But over the years Hong Kong has witnessed massive protests and many, including Western countries, have condemned Beijing’s growing interference in the city.
In 2020, China introduced a controversial national security law that has contributed to free speech and protest in Hong Kong. This has led Britain to accuse China of violating the “one country two-state system” and their agreement.
The recent changes to the Chinese elections designed to ensure that only “extremists” can run for office in Hong Kong have also been widely criticized.
But Mr Xi strongly defended the move on Friday, saying it was “important to protect the stability and security of Hong Kong” and that “this policy should never be allowed to be jeopardized”.
“No person in any country or region in the world can allow political power to fall into the hands of the military or the people who do not like it, or who will never sell or betray their country,” he said.
On Friday, the last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, said Mr Xi’s claim that democracy had begun to provide funding was “absolutely absurd”.
“I don’t think Xi Jinping would have known about the democratic election if he had hit her in the head with a police rifle,” he told the BBC News Channel, adding that national security law was “putting Hong Kong in handcuffs”.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier on Friday: “We are not abandoning Hong Kong.
“Twenty-five years ago we made a promise to the region and its people and intend to keep it, doing everything we can to hold China in its bonds so that Hong Kong is once again dominated by the people of Hong Kong, the people of Hong Kong.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said Chinese authorities had “broken their promises” to the Hongkongers and demanded “the restoration of promised freedom”.
Strong security
At Friday’s ceremony, Mr Xi re-appointed John Lee, a former security chief known for his strong support for Beijing, as Hong Kong’s new chief executive.
Mr Lee has secured a top job in the unchallenged election – a sad fact for many Hongkongers who say China has backtracked on its promise to make the process fully democratic in the end.
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Mr Lee’s new 21-member cabinet was also sworn in. It is full of many working leaders supporting Beijing, including three who have been sanctioned by the US for “undermining Hong Kong’s independence and restricting freedom of speech or association” for its people.
Various official events to celebrate the delivery of the property will be held throughout the city on Friday, which is a holiday. They often reach a climax by displaying explosives over Victoria Harbor.
Hong Kong is under tight security as there are many police and roadblocks in the city.
Mr Xi’s visit this year – the first of its kind in Hong Kong since its 20th anniversary in 2017 – has led to the city sending undressed officials and “special police” comprised of prison and immigrant security guards, reports Martin Yip of BBC Chinese.
The Omicron outbreak earlier this year in Hong Kong has cast doubt on whether Mr Xi, who personally holds China’s zero Covid policy, will cancel his visit.
But he arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday by high-speed train and met with exit chief executive Carrie Lam.