Xi Jinping in Hong Kong to celebrate city’s handover anniv.

Beijing: Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday reached Hong Kong by train for celebrating the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover and the inauguration of the city new leader.
Xi will attend a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Hong Kong on July 1, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The Chinese President, who will also inspect the city, and his wife Peng Liyuan were received by the city’s outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her husband Lam Siu-por at the West Kowloon railway station.
Former security officer John Lee, who will take office on July 1, was elected as the new leader of Hong Kong in an uncontested election, replacing outgoing chief executive Lam, who served since 2017.
Lee’s appointment was widely seen as a move by the Chinese government to tighten its grip on the city, BBC’s report had said on May 8, adding that he is known as a staunch Beijing supporter, who sometimes oversaw violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protestors in 2019.
Hong Kong was returned to China by the UK in 1997 and has since been enjoying wider autonomy than the rest of the Chinese regions. China’s central government adheres to the principle of “one country, two systems” in governing Hong Kong. According to a joint declaration by China and the UK, Hong Kong will retain broad autonomy until 2047. How the former British colony will be governed after that date is not yet known, Sputnik report said. (UNI)

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