Hong Kong armored for the 24th anniversary of its return to China

(ANSA) - BEIJING, 01 JUL - The Hong Kong government today held the usual flag-raising ceremony in Golden BauhiniaSquare to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the passage of the territories from the sovereignty of London to that of Beijing.

With governor Carrie Lam in Beijing to follow the celebrations for 100 years of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, her deputy John Lee oversaw the event in an armored city, while police and water cannon trucks patrolled the nearby streets.

    Lee delivered a speech in which he praised China's imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which took effect on June 30, 2020, and which helped "restore order" to the former colony from the chaos of protests. "While safeguarding national security, residents continue to enjoy free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and demonstration, and other rights within the law," Lee said.

    These are reassurances repeatedly made by Hong Kong leaders, but which little reflect the current reality of the city.

   Last month, for example, Apple Daily, the popular pro-democracy tabloid, shut down after its accounts were frozen under the National Security Act and several of its and editorial honding Next Digital officials were arrested.

    Meanwhile, the police today deployed 10,000 agents, equal to one third of its staff, ready to suppress any sign of dissent while the Chinese Communist Party celebrated its centenary in Beijing (and also in the former colony).

    Since 2003, Hong Kongers have regularly filled the streets on July 1 with peaceful marches and rallies against the passage of territories to China.

   This year, however, the police banned all manifestations, motivating the decision, as they did in 2020, with the risks linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. (HANDLE).