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| Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, is seen with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, at the latter's inauguration ceremony held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Friday. AP-Yonhap |
By Kim Bo-eun
HONG KONG ― Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the "one country, two systems" principle on his two-day visit to Hong Kong, marking the 25th anniversary of the handover of the city by the U.K. to China. The remarks come as Beijing increases its influence over the city, with the passage of the national security law in 2020.
It was the Chinese leader's first trip out of the mainland since the outbreak of the pandemic, and also since the passage of the controversial security law. Xi last visited the former British colony in 2017, for the 20th anniversary of the handover.
In a speech upon his arrival on Thursday, and in a keynote address the following day, Xi praised the framework proposed by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping underscoring that Hong Kong and Macau are parts of China, despite being special administrative regions. China's president said the system has helped Hong Kong "rise from the ashes," after taking on a number of challenges since his last visit.
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| Streets along the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wan Chai, center left, are blocked on Friday morning, before the inauguration ceremony of Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee, presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Korea Times photo by Kim Bo-eun |
Under the handover agreement in 1997, Hong Kong had been granted a "high degree of autonomy" for the next 50 years.
But various freedoms that the city had previously had have been limited, such as the freedom of the press. Several international and local news outlets were barred from covering Xi's address on Friday for unspecified reasons. The Hong Kong Journalists Association said authorities cited security reasons.
Another aspect of the mainland's increasing influence on the city is its relentless COVID restrictions that are in line with China's zero-COVID policy, at a time when the rest of the world has opened up. The mandatory hotel quarantine that Hong Kong requires upon arrival has frustrated the foreign business community, which has led to an outflow of the foreign workforce. Questions have been raised about whether Hong Kong would be able to maintain its status as an international financial hub.
In interviews with media published before his inauguration, Chief Executive John Lee stressed it is Hong Kong's utmost priority to first open its border with China, before opening to the rest of the world by easing quarantine measures.
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| Signs celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover by the U.K. to China are seen on buildings in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Friday. Korea Times photo by Kim Bo-eun |
Xi on Friday presided over the inauguration ceremony of Lee, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wan Chai, attended by around 1,300 guests including political and economic dignitaries, who had completed a mandatory quarantine. Lee is a former police officer and politician, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for involvement in the passage of the national security law as secretary for security at the time, along with former Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
On Thursday, Xi met with Hong Kong officials and praised Lam for her efforts to maintain stability in the city and counter the spread of COVID. Later in the day he attended a banquet hosted by Lam at her official residence.
Following Lee's inauguration ceremony, Xi visited the People's Liberation Army barracks in Central before heading back to the mainland around Friday noon via a high-speed train. He was in Hong Kong for a two-day visit, although he spent Thursday night in the bordering city of Shenzhen.
