President Xi Jinping speaking during a press conference, which was shown on Thursday on a television screen in Hong Kong. Credit … Anthony Kwan / Getty Images
When Xi Jinping, China’s leader, visits Hong Kong to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Britain’s move, he arrives in a heavily transformed city three years ago, when millions took to the streets in the biggest challenge to to the Beijing government in decades.
The Communist Party, ruler of Mr. Xi, canceled this challenge by strengthening his control. Authorities arrested thousands of protesters and activists, imposed a national security law that silenced dissent, and rewrote electoral rules to rule out Beijing critics.
“This is an important journey for him,” said John P. Burns, professor emeritus of politics at the University of Hong Kong. “Of course, it’s about celebrating the 25th anniversary and all that, but it’s also declaring victory over the pandemocratic opposition and its supporters.”
On Friday, Xi installed a former hand-picked security official as the city’s next leader. He had previously met with selected lawmakers after the Beijing election review ensured that only “patriots” could take office in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong and Chinese officials attended a brief ceremony Friday morning in which an honorary police guard raised the flags of China and Hong Kong to commemorate the anniversary. A strong wind blew and the sky was overcast and threatening rain. A government helicopter with a large Chinese flag, followed by another with a smaller Hong Kong flag, flew over Victoria Harbor when the ceremony was held at 8 a.m., followed by a ship from the department of firefighters spraying water from their hoses.
But the pomp and ceremony contrasted sharply with the relative tranquility in the streets under a marked security presence. Groups of police patrolled the neighborhoods near the ceremony site, and rows of police vans lined up at the entrances of several subway stations. For many Hong Kong residents, the anniversary of the delivery and visit of Mr. Xi were of little importance, apart from a day off.
“The central government doesn’t have to do much for Hong Kong. Just let Hong Kong fix things for itself. It’s a free economy right? It wasn’t under much government before,” said Joeson Kwak, a design contractor for Hong Kong. 33-year-old interiors who were in Wanchai district for breakfast. “I do not feel anything special today. I’m glad I didn’t have to go to work today. “
Mr. Xi’s visit is both a message aimed at strengthening Beijing’s rule over Hong Kong to the city’s 7.5 million residents and a message of defiance to Western governments that had denounced its repression. The United States, Britain and other nations have accused China of breaking its promises to allow Hong Kong to preserve its individual rights protections for 50 years under an agreement known as a two-system country.
Submitting Hong Kong also has a personal meaning for Mr. Some. It will help him strengthen his position among the Communist Party elite at a key time, as he is pursuing a third five-year term in office, which he is expected to secure by the end of the year.
“We can expect the October party congress to highlight the success of one country, two systems,” said Sonny Lo, a Hong Kong political commentator.
For local activists, July 1 has been a anniversary of key demonstrations. But a combination of pandemic restrictions and political repression has largely eliminated these meetings. A left-wing group, the League of Social Democrats, had continued to mark significant dates with small demonstrations of only four people, which is technically allowed by the rules of social distancing.
But after visits by national security police, the group announced this week that it would not hold any protests on Friday. Group members have been under constant surveillance and their organization was threatened with closure if they tried to demonstrate, said Avery Ng, the group’s general secretary.
“It’s like China,” he said.