Xi Claims HK's Handover To China Brought 'Democracy' As Critics Howl

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared on Friday that "true democracy" began in Hong Kong 25 years ago, when China took sovereignty, as he commemorated the city altered by his political crackdown.

Photo Insert: There are no opposition MPs in the Hong Kong legislature, and practically all of the city's major pro-democracy personalities, including activists and politicians, have been pushed into exile or imprisoned, with hundreds of them behind bars.

"After its return to the motherland, Hong Kong compatriots became masters of their own affairs," Xi remarked, according to CNN's Nectar Gan, Simone McCarthy, and Kathleen Magramo.

The former British colony is almost halfway through Beijing's 50-year guarantee of "a high degree of autonomy" under the "one nation, two systems" framework, but critics, including Western countries, have accused Beijing of breaking those commitments in recent years as it strengthened its control on Hong Kong.

A year after anti-government protests erupted in Hong Kong, Beijing passed a broad national security ordinance on the once-free city.

Two years later, there are no opposition MPs in the Hong Kong legislature, and practically all of the city's major pro-democracy personalities, including activists and politicians, have been pushed into exile or imprisoned, with hundreds of them behind bars.

Xi's two-day visit marked his first visit to the city since launching the massive crackdown. Xi adopted a celebratory tone in his speech, claiming that Hong Kong had "put an end to chaos and violence," and was poised to "break new ground and take a new leap forward" in the coming five years.

He also emphasized that Hong Kong must be controlled by "patriots," or members of the ruling Communist Party. "It is a universal rule in the world that political power must be in the hands of patriots." Xi stated. Further adding that "No country or region in the world will allow unpatriotic or even traitorous or treasonous forces and figures to seize power.

The pomp and circumstance were mostly confined to the Harbourfront Convention and Exhibition Centre. Due to Covid-19 limits, a severe typhoon, and increased security, the attitude on the streets was much more subdued.

Throughout the morning on Friday, officers in groups of four patrolled footbridges, sidewalks, metro stations, and exits in the Admiralty and Wan Chai commercial areas. "There's really nothing to celebrate.

The whole ceremony is highly guarded and the public isn't invited anyway, just like how (the government) doesn't want ordinary people to join political discussions anymore," said Tse, a 20-year-old photography enthusiast who came to the waterfront to watch the police vessels and helicopters.

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