The China (L) and Hong Kong (R) flags are flown previous by helicopters over Victoria Harbour throughout a flag-raising ceremony to mark the twenty eighth anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China in Hong Kong on July 1, 2025. Agence France-Presse
HONG KONG — Hong Kong chief John Lee mentioned on Tuesday the town has change into safer and extra aggressive because it marks its twenty eighth 12 months underneath Chinese language rule, though critics together with the EU decried the usage of a “repressive” safety legislation.
The previous British colony was handed over to China in 1997 underneath a “One Nation, Two Techniques” governance mannequin, which assured key freedoms and a excessive diploma of autonomy not loved on the mainland.
July 1 in Hong Kong had been marked in earlier years by demonstrations however authorities have cracked down on dissent after enormous and typically violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.
READ: Hong Kong’s new safety legislation doesn’t safeguard human rights–Canada
Lee mentioned “high-level safety to safeguard high-quality improvement” was a prime precedence for his administration, noting the necessity to combine into China’s financial blueprint.
Town this week additionally marked the fifth anniversary of Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping nationwide safety legislation, underneath which 76 individuals have been convicted up to now, imposed after the 2019 protests.
Lee’s authorities enacted a separate safety legislation of its personal in 2024 that authorities say is required to revive order.
“Now we have rebuilt a protected Hong Kong,” Lee mentioned in a speech.
Nonetheless, the European Union mentioned on Monday “the repressive use of the Nationwide Safety Legislation has undermined confidence within the rule of legislation and Hong Kong’s worldwide fame”.
READ: Hong Kong cancels passports of six democracy activists
“The European Union regrets that further nationwide safety laws… launched new offenses, elevated penalties and additional empowered safety authorities,” it mentioned in a press release.
The League of Social Democrats, considered one of Hong Kong’s final remaining opposition events, disbanded on Sunday citing “immense political strain” and concern for the protection of its members.
It was the second pro-democracy occasion to announce plans to wind down this 12 months, following the Democratic Get together in February.
Outgoing US consul basic in Hong Kong Gregory Can also criticised the Hong Kong authorities final week for utilizing the safety legislation to focus on abroad activists.
Authorities say that Hong Kong residents proceed to get pleasure from rights and freedoms assured underneath its Fundamental Legislation structure, though such rights aren’t absolute.
Lee additionally mentioned Hong Kong will velocity up an formidable plan to urbanise land close to its border with China, a improvement often called the Northern Metropolis that can take up a 3rd of Hong Kong’s whole space.
The venture has raised considerations over its environmental impression in addition to its long-term burden on Hong Kong’s public funds. /dl
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