Chinese language President Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday forward of occasions to mark the twenty fifth anniversary of the town’s handover from Britain to China.
The July 1 anniversary of the handover has been marked prior to now with peaceable pro-democracy protests with tens of hundreds of individuals. This 12 months, nevertheless, authorities are clamping all the way down to get rid of public opposition to China’s rule over the monetary hub.
What is predicted for Xi’s journey?
Xi’s go to in Hong Kong on Thursday, and his anticipated look throughout anniversary occasions on Friday, marks the primary time the president has traveled exterior mainland China because the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Particulars of his go to have been stored secret, however he was anticipated to make an look on Thursday in Hong Kong earlier than spending the evening again on the mainland in neighboring Shenzhen.
He’s then anticipated to return to Hong Kong on Friday for occasions marking the handover anniversary.
Xi’s final go to to the previous British colony was in 2017 to swear in outgoing metropolis chief Carrie Lam.
Strict management over handover anniversary occasions
Safety is tight for Xi’s go to, with authorities eager to make sure no public shows of opposition to the Chinese language chief and Beijing’s uncompromising rule.
Coronavirus restrictions are additionally tight for these touring in his circle and for politicians attributable to meet with the president.
Over a dozen native and worldwide journalists have been denied accreditation to cowl the handover celebrations, information company AFP reported.
Certainly one of Hong Kong’s final remaining opposition teams, the League of Social Democrats, mentioned it might not protest on July 1, stating that nationwide safety officers spoke
Hong Kong’s high polling group has additionally held off on publishing the outcomes of a survey on the federal government’s reputation, citing a authorities “threat evaluation.”
What’s the scenario in Hong Kong?
The anniversary celebrations observe turbulent years in Hong Kong.
Mass gatherings have primarily disappeared attributable to a mixture of strict coronavirus restrictions and a crackdown on dissent below a brand new nationwide safety regulation.
In 2019, the monetary hub was rocked by months of pro-democracy protests that led to the arrest of over 10,000 folks.
By July 2020, Hong Kong enacted Beijing’s nationwide safety regulation which criminalized any acts of “secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with overseas powers.”
Below the regulation, dozens of activists and opposition figures have been arrested, pro-democracy media retailers have been closed and opposition lawmakers have been faraway from the town’s legislative council.
The crackdown has added to the strain between Beijing and the USA, Europe, Japan and different Asian governments.
rs/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)