Meanwhile, Xi is only a few months away from the end of the first decade of power, and it is widely expected that the ruling Communist Party's main meeting this fall will seek an unprecedented third term. ..
The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied that national security law is suppressing freedom. Instead, it claims that the law has ended the turmoil and restored the stability of the city.
Hong Kong may feel more like home to authoritarian leaders who are obsessed with stability. Unlike his previous visits to the city, Xi needs to worry about the official wording of the objection, such as the important headlines on the top page of the local newspaper, the protest slogan on the billboard, and the mass rally on the street. There is none.
Instead, he is set to be surrounded by "patriotic" officials, loyal tycoons, and a series of powerful security measures, including large obstacles and city-wide bans on drones. I am. He is isolated from the public by a meticulously maintained "closed-loop" system-installed to protect him from the city's increasing Covid-19 infection.
As a sign of increased security, journalists from at least seven media organizations, including CNN, will no longer be able to report the ceremony a few days before the event after being first certified. I did.
Beijing supporters say Hong Kong has ushered in a "new era of stability, prosperity and opportunity."
But Critics are afraid that Hong Kong is increasingly transforming its image of China. For some, the "one country, two systems" experiment is already over, 25 years ahead of schedule.
"One country, two systems"
The "one country, two systems" proposed by the late Prime Minister Deng Xiaoping was originally aimed at supporting the achievement of China. Unification with Taiwan, which is a political formula, and autonomous democracy with a capitalist economy. However, it was hoped that it would first apply to Hong Kong and set a desirable example for Taiwan to follow suit.
The governance model pledges that Hong Kong's capitalist system and lifestyle will remain unchanged for 50 years, allowing the capitalist bubble to coexist within a socialist country.
When Margaret Thatcher visited Beijing in 1984 to sign a Sino-British Joint Statement for the Return of Hong Kong, Den assured the British Prime Minister that "China will always keep its promise."
Upon arriving in Hong Kong on Thursday, Xi called the "one country, two systems" a "good system."
"The facts proved that the" one country, two systems "has a strong vitality. It can ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and protect the well-being of Hong Kong's compatriots, "Xi said internally at West Kowloon Station.
"For the past few years, Hong Kong has endured tough challenges one after another, overcoming risks and challenges one after another. After overcoming the storm, Hong Kong emerged from the ashes with vigorous vitality. "He said. ..
Fight for Democracy
Since taking power, Xi has been "Western" with constitutional democracy, press freedom, judicial independence and more. We have fought an ideological war against the influence of "values". And Universal Human Rights-a concept that has long been valued in Hong Kong and has formed an integral part of its identity.
The pursuit of complete democracy in the city, that is, ultimately electing its leader by universal suffrage, that is, the goal set out in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law, is especially by Beijing. Suspected and seen. Freely elected leaders can challenge their authority.
"Attempts to jeopardize China's sovereignty and security, or to use Hong Kong to carry out invasion and sabotage of the mainland, are acts that cross the red line," he said. Said in his 20th delivery speech. anniversary.
But Beijing's tense grip only added to the city's dissatisfaction, especially among the younger generation. Many of them are afraid that they will not have enough time to fight for democracy before the 2047 deadline.
Long-term tensions eventually broke out in 2019 did. A peaceful march against a bill that would allow the expulsion of suspected criminals to mainland China soon snowballed into sometimes violent anti-Beijing protests, the most since the city was handed over with social unrest for months. I fell into a turbulent time.
Hong Kong Transformation
Since then, crackdown measures What was previously unthinkable arrived at a dizzying pace, dramatically changing Hong Kong's political and social situation.
Almost all of the city's major democratic advocates, including activists and politicians, were imprisoned or expelled. There are no opposition members left in the legislature, and now only "patriots" can run for the legislature.
The city's most candid newspaper, Apple Daily, was closed, followed by a number of smaller democratization promotion agencies, with dozens of civil society groups, from unions and churches to activist groups. Disbanded. From statues to annual memorial alerts, memories of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident have been erased from public places.
Tens of thousands of citizens vote on their own feet and migrate to democracies such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
A Hong Kong government spokesman responded to a request for comment on the diminishing freedom of the CNN, saying: "Many freedoms and rights are not absolute and can be limited for reasons such as national security and protection of public security."
But Xi's transformation of Hong Kong Aims not only to deprive the former freedom, but also to reshape the city with the image of China and connect it more deeply with its homeland.
Starting this year, schools, including some kindergartens, will need to hold a national flag-raising ceremony at least once a week, where they must play and sing the national anthem.
Hong Kong police are now using them since the colonial era. Abandoning the British style and adopting the Chinese army's geese-foot march style.
A few days before the 25th delivery ceremony, a temple of doctrine popular with local worshipers. Wontaishin Temple became the first religious facility to hold a flag-raising ceremony in Hong Kong. Flags of China and Hong Kong. Under Xi, the Chinese flag is omnipresent to temples, churches and mosques in mainland China.
Hong Kong authorities are proud to say that they are working to incorporate Hong Kong into China's national economic master plan, including the development of the Greater Bay Area. Hope Beijing will one day rival the Bay Area of San Francisco in New York, and Tokyo.
According to local media reports, Xi plans to spend the night in Shenzhen without being subject to intensive quarantine like regular travelers, so two days. It is expected that the trip will cross the border at least three times ..
Meanwhile, across the Hong Kong border, thousands of officials, guests and staff will attend the ceremony from Wednesday only. Started quarantine at a hotel in the city.
Xi's visit may be historic in many ways, but for many Hong Kongers, his presence is only a short time. See how much it has changed It's just