Chinese President Xi Jinping on
Wednesday (December 22)
"
validated
" the policy of Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, which "
ended chaos and disorder
" in the semi-autonomous territory with a controversial national security law.
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Beijing has imposed a legislative tightening on Hong Kong in order to muzzle dissent following the often violent pro-democracy and anti-government protests that shook the former British colony in 2019. A national security law, imposed in 2020 by the central authorities, made illegal a large part of the opposition, supporters of self-determination as well as more moderate voices, and reserved local elections only to so-called “
patriot
”
candidates
.
30% of voters turned out on Sunday
The first ballot organized under these new rules was held in Hong Kong on Sunday to renew the local Legislative Council. Only 30% of voters turned out, the lowest rate since the on-lending of Hong Kong to China by the United Kingdom in 1997. This did not seem to affect the credit of the head of the Hong Kong executive Carrie Lam to Beijing. The central government "
fully validates
" the policy of the Lam administration, President Xi Jinping told the leader, who is currently visiting the Chinese capital for three days, according to an interview broadcast by Hong Kong television RTHK.
The situation "
is continually evolving for the better
" in Hong Kong, Xi said, adding that last weekend's poll was "
passed successfully
" thanks to changes imposed by Beijing to the local electoral system.
The president ruled in front of Carrie Lam that the Hong Kong government had taken "
firm measures to promote democratic development in Hong Kong in accordance with the real situation
", still according to RTHK images.
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The Lam administration "
resolutely applied
" the National Security Law, "
lawfully ended chaos and disorder
" and "
protected the authority and dignity of the rule of law
."
"
The democratic rights of our compatriots in Hong Kong to be masters at home have been fulfilled,
" Xi Jinping stressed.
The G7 countries and the European Union (EU) expressed at the beginning of the week their "
deep concern
" after the elections last weekend in Hong Kong, which they see as a symbol of "
erosion
" of local democracy.
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