John Lee, a former safety official who oversaw the crackdown on dissent within the metropolis since 2019 pro-democracy protests, pledged to uphold town’s mini-constitution, the Primary Legislation, and bear allegiance to Hong Kong. He additionally pledged to be accountable to the central authorities in Beijing.
His inauguration adopted a morning flag-raising ceremony attended by Mr Lee, outgoing metropolis chief Carrie Lam and a number of other hundred different individuals. Mr Xi, who’s making his first journey off the mainland in two-and-a-half years, was not current on the ceremony.
Chinese language President Xi Jinping has officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong’s new chief as town marked the twenty fifth anniversary of its return to Chinese language rule after being pulled in recent times beneath a lot tighter Communist Get together management.
On his arrival Thursday, Xi informed well-wishers that Hong Kong has overcome many challenges through the years and had been “reborn from the ashes” with “vigorous vitality,” in an obvious allusion to the 2019 pro-democracy protests, which have been adopted by a sweeping crackdown on dissent that has reworked the financial hub as soon as recognized for its political and civic freedoms.
The flag-raising ceremony was held amid robust winds, and law enforcement officials carrying the Chinese language and Hong Kong flags marched into the Golden Bauhinia Sq. for the ceremony with the Chinese language goose-stepping model, changing a British-style march. Friends stood at consideration because the Chinese language nationwide anthem was performed.
Mr Xi final visited Hong Kong in 2017 for the July 1 celebrations, throughout which he warned that there could be no tolerance for any actions seen as threatening China’s sovereignty and stability.
The months of pro-democracy protests in 2019 have been seen by China’s ruling Communist Get together as simply such a menace, and Mr Xi in remarks on Thursday night praised Lam for ending chaos that had gripped town and for making certain that solely “patriots” would rule Hong Kong.
Because the protests, Beijing and Hong Kong authorities drafted a nationwide safety regulation that was then used to arrest scores of activists, media figures and democracy supporters; launched a extra patriotic curriculum in colleges; and revamped election legal guidelines to maintain opposition politicians out of town’s Legislature.
The adjustments have all however eradicated dissenting voices within the metropolis and have pushed many to depart.
