Chinese leader’s speech Xi Jinpingwho visited Hong Kong to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from the British colony, provoked mixed reactions among Hong Kongers, as it was described as “reassuring” and even “delirious”.
The Communist Party of China attaches great importance to anniversaries, and Xi’s visit was a opportunity to strengthen Beijing’s authority over Hong Kong following three years of political instability.
“Xi’s speech reiterated the message that has been sent to Hong Kong since the implementation of the National Security Law,” political analyst Kenneth Chan of Hong Kong Baptist University told AFP.
“China now exercises total control over the city, through its pro-Chinese allies,” he says.
Since China imposed the national security law following massive pro-democracy demonstrations in the territory in 2019, dissent has been stifled in this once politically vibrant city.
Xi’s insistence that democracy has flourished despite years of political repression is received with disdain for those who have been affected by Beijing’s iron grip.
Ted Hui, a former opposition MP who exile abroad following being arrested multiple times, says Xi’s words that “true democracy” began following the former colony was handed over to China are a “lie”.
He says that under British rule, the city never had a full democracy, but now “we have lost both formal democracy and its substance, especially following the implementation of the national security law.”
One of his former colleagues, Emily Lau, assures that “true democracy never began in Hong Kong, neither before nor following 1997”, the year the territory was retroceded to China.
But the analyst assures that “now we have lost freedoms such as democracy at the same time.”
– ‘One country, two systems –
After receiving President Xi at the train station, Hong Kong’s new chief executive John Lee called the visit “inspiring.”
Xi reiterated that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle – the governance model agreed upon by the UK and China under which the city will retain some autonomy and freedoms – worked well and did not need to be changed.
Lee considered these statements by the Chinese president “very clear and very solid.”
But on the streets of Hong Kong, this opinion is not often shared. Jonathan Yeung, 43, calls Xi’s position that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle has no reason to change “laughable.”
“He has been the one who has caused the biggest changes” to that principle, he explains.
“That was a speech for John Lee, I don’t think it was meant for Hongkongers like me,” he added.
But a jewelry owner named Wan, 44, thinks it’s a good thing that President Xi has clearly laid out the priorities for the territory’s next administration.
And he shares with the Chinese president that Hong Kong “cannot afford to fall into chaos”, because “past years were very hard”, he says, referring to the massive and sometimes violent protests that took place in the territory.
(AFP)