Protests as Xi Jinping arrives for Hong Kong 20th anniversary
Chinese President’s visit marked by celebrations, arrests and a sit-in
Chinese President Xi Jinping was met with jubilation and demonstrations today on his first trip to Hong Kong in an official visit designed to mark two decades of Chinese rule in the former British territory.
Well-wishers greeted Jinping at the airport, but protesters have been active in the run-up to the visit. Prominent Hong Kong protesters, including Nathan Law and Joshua Wong, were arrested after they staged a sit-in the night before the President's visit.
"For the past 20 years, Hong Kong has always had the strong backing of the central government," the President told crowds at Hong Kong airport on Thursday, encouraging citizens to "look forward to the future, making sure 'one country, two systems' can work smoothly and continue".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
About 11,000 officers will be deployed during the visit and areas of the city will be off limits to the public, The Guardian reports.
An annual protest will take place on 1 July, shortly after the President's departure. According to the Daily Telegraph, the protest is "a call for full democracy".
On 1 July 1997, the UK handed control of Hong Kong to China under what is known as a "one country, two systems" formula, which grants a level of autonomy to Hong Kong that differs from mainland China.
Concerns over the democratic rights of Hong Kong citizens have lingered since the 1997 handover. There were mass protests after Beijing's proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system in 2014. More than 100,000 pro-democracy demonstrators opposed the reforms in what has been dubbed the Umbrella Revolution, due to the activists' usage of umbrellas to protect them from police pepper spray.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Netanyahu's Rafah attack vow snarls truce deal
Speed Read Hours before the truce deal was to be finalized, Netanyahu said Israel will invade Rafah regardless
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 1, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - beware of governor, biting debates, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Democrats defang GOP speaker ouster threat
Speed Read Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she will force a vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published