Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - China's President Xi Jinpin g declared on Thursday that Hong Kong has conquered its difficulties and...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - China's President Xi Jinping declared on Thursday that Hong Kong has conquered its difficulties and "risen from the ashes" as he arrived in the former British territory to commemorate 25 years since its return to Chinese administration.
John Lee, the new leader of the global financial centre, will be sworn in by Xi on Friday during his first known journey outside of the mainland in more than two years because to the COVID-19 outbreak. This will be Xi's first visit to the city since 2017.
When Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, exited a high-speed train while wearing masks, they were met by youngsters waving flowers and Chinese and Hong Kong flags while chanting, "Welcome, welcome, warmly welcome."
"Hong Kong has endured difficult tests time and time again, overcoming difficulties one at a time," Xi added. Despite the wind and rain, Hong Kong has recovered.
While a police band performed, authorities organised a lion dance celebration. The railway station was well guarded, and police conducted stop-and-search operations with the help of sniffer dogs.
Following massive pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, Beijing strengthened its grip on Hong Kong with a comprehensive national security law. Some commentators view Xi's visit as a victory lap.
Carrie Lam, the outgoing leader, and her husband were among those who greeted Xi at the train station, which had lain vacant for two years due to the pandemic.
Red China flags and placards announcing a "new era" of stability were all over the city streets.
The whole formal itinerary for Xi's visit is yet unknown. It was unclear right away whether the festivities would be impacted by the typhoon that weather forecasters had predicted on Wednesday.
During his most recent visit to Hong Kong, Xi urged the city to strengthen its national security measures and warned against any actions compromising China's sovereignty.
Five years ago, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched during Xi's visit; this year, none are anticipated.
IMPROVED SECURITY
Senior police officer Lui Kam-ho issued a warning this week against any acts of violence or civil unrest. The more than 30,000-strong police department announced that it would use its resources to provide security for the festivities.
Police restricted traffic, blocked roads, and enforced a no-fly zone above Victoria Harbour in the city's centre.
After receiving a warning from national security officials not to protest during Xi's visit, members of the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats said that they would abandon their preparations for demonstrations.
Incoming leader Lee and Lam have reportedly been undergoing daily COVID testing and residing in a quarantine hotel for days prior to Xi's visit. Lee is a former police officer who the United States has sanctioned due to violations of the national security law.
Wednesday saw the greatest number of new coronavirus infections in Hong Kong since April, at 2,000.
In contrast to a global trend of living with the disease, China's approach of putting an end to COVID-19 outbreaks as soon as they start, at almost any cost, is unusual.
During a visit to the central city of Wuhan, where the virus was initially discovered, on Tuesday, Xi declared the plan to be "right and efficient" and urged its strict adherence.
The Hong Kong government cited security concerns in preventing journalists from various local and foreign media outlets from covering the festivities.
Xi, who is set to win a record-breaking third leadership term at the Communist Party congress this year, which only occurs once every five years, is anticipated to spend Thursday night in Shenzhen before leaving Hong Kong on Friday.
