Xi Jinping Attends Hong Kong Sovereignty Return Ceremony Emphasis on 'overall sovereignty'

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Hong Kong for the first time after massive anti-government protests in 2019.

China, surprised by the anti-government protests, is visiting amid criticism that the one country, two systems, or one country, two systems, have collapsed as China enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law and overhauled Hong Kong's electoral system.

In Hong Kong, President Xi emphasized that 'Hong Kong is Chinese territory' and is expected to reveal that Hong Kong has regained stability after China's measures.

China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported that President Xi will attend the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty and the inauguration of the 6th Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the 1st of next month.

If President Xi visits Hong Kong, it will be the first time outside mainland China since the outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020 and the first visit to Hong Kong since the anti-government protests in 2019.

Yesterday, 1,860 new infections were reported and high-ranking officials were also confirmed.

However, it is analyzed that as the conflict between the US and China escalated, and in the meantime, criticism from the West over the Hong Kong issue continued, President Xi attended the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to sovereignty and felt the need to emphasize China's total sovereignty over the region. .

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam previously said, "So much has happened in the past five years that I think there will be an important speech by the national leader who will set the direction for Hong Kong's future development."

"When President Xi visits Hong Kong, he is likely to emphasize the principle of one country, two systems and full sovereignty over Hong Kong," said Lau Shiukai, vice president of the Hong Kong and Macau Research Association.

This is Xi's second visit to Hong Kong since he took office, and he accompanied his wife Peng Liyuan on a three-day itinerary to attend the ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty in 2017 and the inauguration of the 5th government led by Carrie Lam.