Photographer: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
Photographer: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Hong Kong should be ruled by “patriots”, in the latest sign of Beijing’s focus on tightening control over the semi-autonomous Asian financial center.
Xi told Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, whose term expires next year, that having loyal leaders was the only way to ensure the city’s stability, state media reported. During Wednesday’s video conference, the Chinese president also offered some of his highest praise to the unpopular Lam, who attributed to him “stopping violence and chaos according to the law and working to get Hong Kong back on track.” ”.
“On important issues such as national security, you have taken a firm stand and taken responsibility, demonstrating your love and deep sense of responsibility towards the homeland and Hong Kong,” Xi told Lam, according to the official agency. Xinhua News.
Xi also said he was “very concerned and concerned” about the current rise of coronavirus in Hong Kong and promised additional support. “The homeland is always Hong Kong’s strong support. Surely the difficulties can be overcome, “Xi said, according to the Xinhua report, which did not explain in detail what China could do.
The meeting takes place amid a wave of Hong Kong media reports that Chinese lawmakers in Beijing are debating other brakes on the already limited democracy of the former British colony. All members of the opposition in the city legislature have been expelled or resigned in protest amid crackdown on dissent following the historic 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations.
Beijing has increasingly stressed the need for “patriotism” on the part of Hong Kong officials, a requirement that democracy activists argue is more about loyalty to the ruling communist party than the nation. Four opposition lawmakers deemed disloyal were expelled in November, prompting a mass resignation by those remaining, and the government he said all officials appointed before July 1 would be asked to sign a statement defending the city’s mini-constitution.
“To ensure the stable and lasting implementation of a‘ country, two systems ’, Hong Kong must always be ruled by patriots,” Xi told Lam. “This is the fundamental principle that affects China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.”
Lam told Xi that the city “has basically functioned normally, keeping the financial system stable,” according to statement issued last Wednesday. He said his top priority was to curb the epidemic “to protect people’s health and restore economic activities.”
Beijing’s efforts to crack down on Hong Kong’s opposition, including the enactment of a powerful national security law in June, have sparked protests from Western nations and U.S. sanctions on Chinese officials. In the summons, Xi expressed his condolences to Hong Kong officials which he described as “unreasonable sanctions”.
Lam, who has complained that U.S. sanctions have prevented him from accessing banking services, thanked Xi for his support, according to the government statement. He said Hong Kong officials “would continue to fulfill their duty to safeguard national security without fear.”
– With the assistance of Iain Marlow, Jie Hou, Colin Keatinge, Kari Soo Lindberg and David Watkins