The President of China now likes what he sees in Hong Kong
Tom Cheshire
correspondent in Asia
@chesh
China had promised to keep Hong Kong’s way of life unchanged until 2047.
Critics say it ended 25 years earlier, with the draconian national security rule and the crushing of dissent.
But Mr. Xi’s speech was striking in his long-term vision of “One Country, Two Systems.”
“Hong Kong and Macao should keep their capitalist system going for a long period of time, with a high level of autonomy,” the Chinese president said.
This suggests that one country, two systems may last beyond its 2047 expiration date.
Because while Mr. Xi is looking at Hong Kong, he now likes what he sees, what the National Security Act has achieved.
In 2017, on his first visit to Hong Kong as a Chinese leader, his tone was much more belligerent.
“Any attempt to jeopardize China’s sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government … or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line. and it is absolutely inadmissible, ”he said. then.
He now believes the “challenge” has been diverted.
And the streets of Hong Kong testify to that.
In 2017, after the speech of Mr. Xi, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, calling for greater democracy.
Five years later, the streets are silent.