Xi Jinping, in rare Hong Kong visit, hails change ‘from chaos to order’
The Hindu
July 1, 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said Hong Kong was “in a new stage of transitioning from chaos to order” on a rare visit to the Special Administrative Region (SAR).
July 1, 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China and also saw the swearing-in of new Chief Executive John Lee and his government.
Mr. Xi’s visit wasn’t certain until earlier this week, given Beijing’s concerns over the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong, which has seen around 10,000 deaths this year and reported more than 2,000 cases on Friday. The Chinese mainland, by contrast, follows a strict “zero-COVID” policy and reported only a dozen cases on Friday. The capital Beijing, which reported no cases on Friday, like most Chinese cities requires all residents to undertake a PCR test every three days and continues to maintain strict restrictions on international travel.
Underlining this concern, Mr. Xi chose not to stay in Hong Kong having arrived there on Thursday, instead taking the bullet train back to Shenzhen on the mainland, and returning once again on Friday. The Hong Kong-mainland border, which was closed during his visit, is yet to open more than two years into the pandemic with a daily quota of only a few hundred travellers allowed every day, including with mandatory two weeks’ quarantine.
That Mr. Xi chose to leave the mainland for the first time in more than two years since the outbreak in Wuhan – his last visit abroad was in mid-January to Myanmar a few days before the lockdown of Wuhan – underlined the importance of the anniversary in signalling what Mr. Xi called “a new stage of transitioning from chaos to order”, apparently referring to the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
“Having gone through ups and downs, people have learned the hard way that Hong Kong must not be destabilised and cannot afford any chaos,” he said.
“Enforcing the central authorities’ overall jurisdiction and upholding the SAR’s high degree of autonomy are integral aspects of the same policy, and only by ensuring both can we run the SAR truly well,” he said, adding that Beijing would fully back the new Hong Kong leader, Mr. Lee and the “one country, two systems” model.
Trump demands Venezuela return seized U.S. oil assets, justifying a blockade amid ongoing tensions over drug trafficking and nationalization.
U.S. Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, emphasizing urgency in lunar exploration and Mars missions amid competition with China.
Two Indians, misled into military service in Ukraine, killed; their bodies returned to Delhi, raising concerns over recruitment practices.
Taiwan reports China's new aircraft carrier, Fujian, transited the Taiwan Strait amid ongoing military pressure from Beijing.
Japan's PM Takaichi emphasizes openness to dialogue with China amid ongoing diplomatic tensions over Taiwan.
Indian Army apprehends Pakistani woman crossing LoC after family argument, highlighting tensions in Poonch district.
MEA summons Bangladesh High Commissioner amid rising tensions over a planned protest against Indian interference in Bangladesh politics.
Investigators release new video of a possible Brown University shooter, seeking public help in identifying the suspect.
The Philippines denies claims of terrorist training following Bondi gunmen's visit, citing lack of evidence and recent military assessments.
Trump's upcoming address on December 17 will highlight his achievements and outline future policies amidst economic criticism.
MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro was fatally shot at home, prompting an ongoing homicide investigation by authorities.
The U.S. threatens countermeasures against the EU over perceived discriminatory tech regulations impacting American companies.
Australia mourns the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, including beloved rabbi Eli Schlanger, at a heartfelt funeral service.