HONG KONG aEUR: The Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong Thursday, ahead of the 25th anniversary British handover. He arrived after a two year transformation that brought the city closer under Communist Party control. This is Xi Jinping’s first visit outside mainland China in almost 2 1/2 years.
The supporters waved flags of Hong Kong and Chinese, while they chanted “Welcome!” Warmest greetings! As Xi’s train arrived at the station,
Xi and Peng Liyuan were greeted by Carrie Lam, the city leader, as they alighted from the train. Xi waved to supporters as he alighted from the train. Later, Xi greeted John Lee (the city’s incoming leader) and Leung Chunying (an ex-chief executive of the city), among other officials.
Xi stated that he was very happy to be in Hong Kong in a speech delivered at the Hong Kong West Kowloon station train station. “It has been five years since my last visit to Hong Kong, and the last five years have been filled with thinking and attention about Hong Kong.
China’s leadership has restructured Hong Kong over the past two decades, cracking down against protest and freedom speech, and introducing a more patriotic curriculum to schools. Many have left because of the changes and opposition voices.
Hong Kong and Macao, which are both in the vicinity of Beijing, are administrative special regions that are managed separately from the rest China.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi has remained in China. China has maintained a strict policy of “zero COVID”, which aims to prevent the spread of the virus. Xi made his last overseas trip to Myanmar in January 2020.
Xi stated that Hong Kong had overcome many difficulties over the years and was now “reborn from the ashes with vigorous vitality.”
He stated that Hong Kong would have a brighter future if it adhered to the “one country, two system” framework. This will allow the city to make greater contributions to the great revitalization of the Chinese people.
According to South China Morning Post, Xi will visit the Hong Kong Science Park later Thursday before meeting with pro Beijing politicians and tycoons. Afterwards, he will attend a closed-door banquet hosted at Lam by the outgoing chief executive.
Peng and Xi will likely spend Thursday night in Shenzhen, China aEUR 15 minutes from Hong Kong via high-speed train aEUR”, and then return to Hong Kong on Friday morning for the July 1 events.
Friday’s ceremony will mark Hong Kong’s return under Chinese control on July 1, 1997. Xi will also officiate the inauguration ceremony of the new government headed by Lee.
Before his arrival in Hong Kong this week, thousands of guests, including politicians, top officials and diplomats, aEUR” checked into quarantine hotels to check in earlier this week. They have also been receiving daily nucleic acid testing as part of their coronavirus precautions.
Police have increased security by establishing security zones and road closures, as well as a no fly zone for Friday.
The government said it was trying to strike a balance between security and media requirements, and rejected the applications of more than 10 journalists from both local and international media outlets.
