Hong Kong marks anniversary of return to China amid protest
Hong Kong has marked the 21st anniversary of the return to mainland China as thousands in the city of 7.3 million protest against the increased Beijing influence.
In a ceremony attended by senior government authorities on Sunday, Hong Kong marked the historic occasion in 1997 when the Britain ended its colonial rule and handed over the city to China.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who took over as governor of Hong Kong a year ago, said in the ceremony that the Basic Law, the constitution that governed the city and gives it a considerable level of autonomy, would remain the only framework for ruling Hong Kong.
She said, however, that there was a need for a better understanding of the Basic Law which stipulates that Hong Kong should be governed under the “one, country, two systems” formula.
“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,” said Lam while asserting that the “one, country, two systems” framework remains intact under her watch.
The ceremony came as thousands staged a protest in Hong Kong demanding the government to try to prevent more Chinese control over the territory.
The protesters said increased Chinese influence in all aspects of life in Hong Kong meant that the city would eventually be robbed of its autonomy while people could never enjoy the right to universal suffrage as promised in the Basic Law.
“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 a teenage boy who attended the protest with his father.
Hundreds of police officers were deployed as supporters of China’s rule also staged a counter-rally in the city.
Mass protests erupted in Hong Kong in 2014 when China refused to grant full democracy to the city. Some Hong Kong residents believe China is slowly pushing to clear the old border that has defined the city’s autonomy and absorb the territory into its the Greater Bay Area by building huge bridge and rail lines between the two areas.
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