Protests mark HK celebration
Democracy activists lament Beijing’s growing encroachments in the former British colony
HONG KONG— Thousands of Hong Kongers marched on downtown streets on Sunday to protest Beijing’s supposed encroachments on the former British colony. The police stopped a small protest in the morning near the rites marking the 21st anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China, but thousands poured onto the streets in the afternoon, organizers said.
HONG KONG— Thousands of Hong Kongers braved sweltering heat on Sunday to protest Beijing’s tightening grip over the former British colony as it marked the 21st anniversary of its return to Chinese rule.
The protesters included elderly people in wheelchairs, couples with sleeping toddlers and young residents, some of whom waved banners saying: “End one-party rule; Against the fall of Hong Kong.”
‘One country, two systems’
“Now the government is already siding with the Communist Party. Can Hong Kong see any universal suffrage in 20 or 30 year’s time? I don’t think so,” said 13-year-old Joanna Wen.
Hong Kong is a former British colony that was returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula guaranteeing it a high degree of autonomy and the promise of universal suffrage.
Beijing’s refusal to grant full democracy to Hong Kong triggered massive street protests in 2014 and deepened resentment toward China’s perceived growing encroachment on the territory.
Government intact
Hundreds of police were deployed on Sunday as some demonstrators marched with yellow umbrellas, a symbol of democratic activism in the city.
At a ceremony early on Sunday to mark the handover anniversary, Chief Executive Carrie Lamasserted that the “one, country, two systems” framework remains intact under her watch.
“Without fear, we correctly deal with our relationship with the central government. And we promote a stronger understanding of the constitution, the Basic Law, and national security in all sectors,” Lam said at a Sunday morning cocktail reception.
Also present at the ceremony were the three former chief executives—Tung Chee-wah, Donald Tsang and Leung Chun-ying, as well as mainland officials.
While Hong Kong activists push for greater democracy, the city is being pulled under mainland China’s control, and some Hong Kong residents say the old border that has defined the city’s autonomy is slowly withering away.
Lam faces a test later this year with the opening of two highly symbolic infrastructure projects—a bridge and a highspeed rail line linking Hong Kong with mainland China.
The projects are part of a broader Beijing plan dubbed the Greater Bay Area, overseen by Xi, to integrate the city into the Pearl River Delta and improve the flow of people and money between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Beijing’s plan
Veteran prodemocracy barrister Martin Lee said the opening of the bridge and rail line would kick-start Hong Kong’s absorption into the Greater Bay Area.
“That seems to be the plan of Beijing, to have Hong Kong absorbed into this bay area... Hong Kong will no longer be Hong Kong,” Lee said.
Lamwas chosen by a largely pro-Beijing committee of some 1,200 people in the city of 7.3 million.
Her approval ratings have dipped since then. A University of Hong Kong survey of 1,000 people put her approval rating at 54.3 percent, down from 61.1 percent a year ago.—
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