Xi defends vision of Hong Kong as 25-year anniversary marked

1/7/2022 18:03

        China's leader Xi Jinping marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return in a speech Friday emphasizing Beijing's comprehensive control over the once-British colony under his vision of the "one country, two systems" framework – countering criticism that the political and civic freedoms promised for the next quarter-century have been all but erased under Chinese rule.
        
        Xi praised the city for overcoming "violent social unrest" – a reference to the 2019 massive pro-democracy movement that was followed by a Beijing-led crackdown that has snuffed out dissent and shut down independent media, aligning Hong Kong more closely with stricter controls under China's ruling Communist Party.
        
        Xi warned that there would be no tolerance for foreign interference or traitors to meddle in Hong Kong's affairs. He said that "safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests" is of the highest priority.