HONG kONG IS marking the halfway point of its 50-year one country, two systems governance with a two-day visit by President Xi Jinping to swear in the city’s new chief executive John Lee (seen above) on July 1, also the anniversary of China’s resumption of sovereignty from the United Kingdom.
Xi’s visit has been wrapped in extensive secrecy, security and Covid protections. It is his first visit outside the mainland since the pandemic began.
He reportedly spent the first night back across the border in Shenzhen and all Hong Kong politicians he is meeting went into quarantine ahead of the visit.
Xi made mention of one country, two systems on his arrival but the overarching theme of the visit is a ‘new era of stability’.
That presages further suppression of dissent, even if Hong Kong remains freer than anywhere else in China.
China Bystander 