Chinese President Xi Jinping assured Friday that there was “no reason” to change the “one country, two systems” principle, which gives a certain degree of autonomy to Hong Kong, during a speech celebrating the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to China.
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This model is “such a good system, there is no reason to change it, and it must be maintained for the long term,” Xi said, adding that everything Beijing had done was “for the good of Hong Kong. “.
The principle “one country, two systems” was negotiated between London and Beijing at the time of the return of the former British colony to China in 1997. It devotes a period of 50 years during which Hong Kong must enjoy a certain autonomy and guaranteed freedoms.
According to government critics, the national security law imposed in 2020 by Beijing after the 2019 protests shattered promised freedoms.
Mr. Xi also assured Friday that “true democracy” began with the handover.
“After reunification with the motherland, the people of Hong Kong have become masters of their own city,” said the Chinese president.
The head of state participated Friday in the celebration ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China and the swearing in of the new local chief executive, John Lee.
The visit is the Chinese president’s first trip outside mainland China since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is also the first in Hong Kong since the great pro-democracy movement of 2019.
She is surrounded by a very heavy police presence and required the establishment of a closed circuit system to ensure that anyone approaching Mr. Xi is not a carrier of the coronavirus.