Chinese President Xi arrives in Hong Kong for handover anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for occasions to rejoice 25 years because the former British colony returned to Chinese rule and the inauguration of the town’s new chief John Lee.

Xi’s go to, through high-speed rail, is his first to the town since 2017 and the primary identified journey outdoors mainland China in over two years amid the Covid-19 epidemic.

Xi, carrying a masks, stepped out of the practice to be greeted by youngsters and different individuals waving flowers and Chinese and Hong Kong flags, whereas chanting “Welcome, welcome, warmly welcome” in Mandarin.

Outgoing chief Carrie Lam and her husband had been amongst those that welcomed Xi on the practice station.

The metropolis’s streets had been festooned with purple China flags and posters declaring a “new era” of stability.

Authorities deployed heavy safety across the practice station the place Xi arrived and performed stop-and-search checks, with some officers assisted by sniffer canine.

Xi’s official full schedule for the go to has not been launched. Hong Kong’s climate forecaster issued a storm warning late on Wednesday, however it was unclear if the celebrations can be impacted.

On his final go to to the worldwide monetary hub, Xi warned towards any acts endangering China’s sovereignty and stated Hong Kong wanted to boost its nationwide safety routine.

In 2019, thousands and thousands of Hong Kongers protested towards rising Chinese authoritarian rule, which later prompted Beijing to impose a sweeping nationwide safety legislation outlawing acts akin to subversion with doable life imprisonment.

While tens of hundreds of protesters had marched throughout Xi’s go to 5 years in the past, no protests are anticipated this 12 months.

Lui Kam-ho, a senior policeman, warned this week towards any “acts of violence or public disorder.” The 30,000-plus police drive stated it’ll deploy all its assets to make sure safety for the celebrations.

Police has closed components of Hong Kong, blocking roads and implementing a no-fly zone over the central Victoria Harbour.

Hong Kong’s incoming chief Lee, a former policeman sanctioned by the United States for his position within the implementation of the nationwide safety legislation, is anticipated to be sworn in by Xi on Friday.

Xi, who’s poised to safe a precedent-breaking third management time period at a once-in-five-years Communist Party congress later this 12 months, is anticipated to spend the evening in neighbouring Shenzhen on Thursday and depart from Hong Kong on Friday.