Hong Kong: Xi Jinping's visit scheduled for July 1, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping during his previous visit to Hong Kong in July 2017 (illustration image).

REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The Chinese president will visit Hong Kong on July 1, 2022. Xi Jinping is due to attend the 25th anniversary of the city's handover to China, as Beijing is accused of stifling the last freedoms of Hong Kongers there.

It will also be the Chinese leader's first outing from mainland China since the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Beijing,

It has been five years since Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan visited Hong Kong.

The last time was in 2017, for the twenty years of the return of the special administrative region to the "motherland" as the state media say here.

To

At the time, 11,000 police had been deployed recalls the

this morning.

Very high surveillance

A visit, this time again, under very close surveillance – while demonstrators claim to be preparing for rallies – and meticulously prepared.

We must avoid the slightest incident.

As with all gatherings where leaders are present in China, the visit will be a closed loop, with a handpicked and Covid-19 tested audience and guests.

Two five-star hotels will be closed to reservations from this Monday, June 27. Concerning the program, the passage through a school and a science park would be under study, if the program of the Chinese number one is not too busy.

According to

, school children were asked to spend a week in quarantine before the event,

were repeated.

Beijing wants to show an image in contrast to the 2019 protests

No quack, for this 25th anniversary.

Beijing wants to show an image in contrast to the giant protests of 2019 refusing mainland China's grip, an image of Hong Kongers united behind the Chinese head of state who will preside over the anniversary ceremony and attend the inauguration of John Lee, new chief of the city designated by the Chinese power.

►Also read

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_EN

• China

• hong kong

• Xi Jinping

• Diplomacy

• Human rights

• Coronavirus