President Xi Jinping on Saturday sternly warned that any attempt to “endanger” China’s sovereignty in Hong Kong in the name of democracy would cross a “red line” and was “absolutely impermissible” as the former British colony marked 20 years of Chinese rule.
The high-profile visit by Xi, also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, is his first to the gleaming city since becoming the top leader in 2013. It also comes three years after mass pro-democracy rallies crippled parts of the Asian financial hub for months.
Xi’s warning came at a gathering to mark two decades of years of Chinese rule in Hong Kong and swearing-in of pro- Beijing new Chief Executive Carry lam and her Cabinet. Many Hong Kongers are upset over what they call increasing Chinese encroachment on the city’s autonomy — guaranteed during Britain’s handover of the territory to China in 1997 under a framework known as “one country, two systems”.
“Any attempt to endanger national sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government and the authority of the Basic law of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administration Region) or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line, and is absolutely impermissible,” Xi, also General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, said.
Xi arrived on a three-day visit on June 29 amid an unprecedented security to keep the pro-democracy protesters at bay.