Hong Kong will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its return to China on July 1, with a commemorative ceremony attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President Xi, who arrived in Hong Kong on the 30th of last month, met with the retiring Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, and evaluated that he had led Hong Kong in a stable manner by suppressing large-scale demonstrations and changing the election system.
In line with the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China on July 1, President Xi Jinping entered Hong Kong on a high-speed railroad on the 30th of last month and retired from Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, last month. I met on the night of the 30th.
According to China's state-owned Xinhua News Agency, President Xi said in an interview that he "changed Hong Kong from turmoil to stable governance" and led Hong Kong to stability by suppressing large-scale demonstrations and changing the election system. I evaluated it.
On the 1st, President Xi will attend a ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the return and a ceremony to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new chief executive, Mr. Lee Jia, and will appeal the results of the strengthening of control under the leadership of the Chinese government. It seems to be a thing.
Every year in Hong Kong, demonstrations calling for democratization are called for on the anniversary of the return, and tens of thousands of citizens have participated, and three years ago, young people rushed into the legislative assembly, which is a parliament. I did.
However, this time, the group calling for the demonstration has already been dissolved, and other democratic groups have also stated that they will not be active this time after being called by the police.
President Xi is leaving mainland China for the first time after the spread of the new corona infection.
President Xi Jinping has refrained from visiting Myanmar for two and a half years after his last visit to Myanmar in January.
It seems that the spread of the new coronavirus infection worldwide has had an effect.
Although this visit to Hong Kong is not overseas, it is a visit to an area where infection control measures are different from those of mainland China under the "one country, two systems", and it is a new type for President Xi to leave mainland China. This is the first time since the spread of Corona infection.
In Hong Kong, the infection has spread rapidly recently, and authorities have taken unusual measures such as quarantining attendees of the memorial ceremony in advance at the hotel.
Despite the risk of infection, President Xi visited Hong Kong three years ago after a large-scale demonstration in Hong Kong, with the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law to crack down on anti-government movements and the Hong Kong elections. It seems that the aim is to directly appeal that the society has been stabilized by strengthening control under its own leadership, such as changing the system.
In particular, this commemorative ceremony is also a turning point for the "one country, two systems" that was returned from the United Kingdom and has not changed for 50 years. Before the Congress of the Communist Party, which is held once every five years, it seems that there is a speculation that it will give momentum to the continuation of the project, emphasizing the "achievement" that led Hong Kong from the turmoil to stability.
"One country, two systems" is becoming more and more influential Chinese government
Hong Kong was returned to China on July 1, 1997, 25 years ago, after about a century and a half of British rule.
Under the "one country, two systems", unlike mainland China, it has been said that a high degree of autonomy such as capitalism and freedom of speech is recognized.
However, in the last 25 years, the influence of the Chinese government has increased rapidly, and it has been pointed out that the form of "one country, two systems" has changed.
2014 "Umbrella Movement" occurs
In 2014, students and others vehemently opposed the Chinese government's decision to virtually eliminate candidates critical of the Communist Party over the election to select the top executive branch of Hong Kong.
The so-called "rain umbrella movement" that occupies the main road in search of a democratic election system has occurred, but it was forcibly eliminated in a little over two months.
2019 large-scale demonstrations one after another
And in 2019, a series of large-scale demonstrations that more than one million people participated were triggered by the movement to amend the ordinance to allow the suspect to be handed over to mainland China.
June 2020 Enforcement of "Hong Kong National Security Law"
In response, the Chinese government decided to introduce the "Hong Kong National Security Law" to crack down on Hong Kong's anti-government movements, and the law came into effect in June.
Due to the enforcement of the law, pro-democracy politicians and activists have been arrested one after another, and 124 people have been prosecuted by the 23rd of last month.
2021 Decided to change the Chinese government election system
In addition, the Chinese government decided last year to change the election system, saying that it would "promote the rule of Hong Kong by patriots."
As a result, they could not run until they passed the "patriotism" examination, and the legislative council, which was elected last December, had zero democratic seats.
In addition, lawmakers and civil servants are required to take an oath to be loyal to the state, and even in the ward council, where more than 80% of the pro-democracy occupies, most of the members are disqualified or resigned and lose their seats. I did.
2021-202 Freedom of speech and meetings are restricted one after another
Media such as "Ringo Daily" and "Stand News", which were in a position to support the pro-democracy, were arrested by editorial executives and were forced to suspend publication last year. Memorial rallies were also banned and the host organization was forced to disband.
Economically strengthening ties
On the economic side, on the other hand, ties with mainland China have strengthened.
The number of tourists from mainland China to Hong Kong, which was 2.3 million a year in 1997, surged to 51 million in 2018.
In addition, due to China's economic growth, the amount of investment from mainland Chinese companies in Hong Kong over the past 20 years has increased 17-fold.
In 2018, a high-speed railway that directly connects mainland China and Hong Kong was opened, and the Chinese government is planning to invest in the region with the concept of the economic zone "Guangdong District" including Guangdong Province and Macau, which are adjacent to Hong Kong. We are working on creating a system.
Hong Kong and mainland China are expected to become more integrated as the "one country, two systems", which was said to remain unchanged for 50 years, will reach its 25th anniversary.