Hong Kong: John Lee, Beijing's loyal field agent

AreaRead the video transcript expand here

Hong Kong's new head of government, John Lee, was the city's former security chief and instrumental in crushing the city's pro-democracy movement.

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of Britain's return of the former crown colony, he vowed to promote integration into the mainland system.

China's President Xi Jinping also came to Hong Kong to celebrate for the first time in five years.

Xi Jinping, President of China: "In recent years, Hong Kong has repeatedly weathered severe trials and gradually overcome risks and challenges.

After wind and rain, Hong Kong has risen from the ashes and has shown a high level of strength and vitality.«

Several roads in the Wan Chai Convention Center area were closed for Xi's visit and ceremony.

Flags and commemorative banners proclaimed a "new era" of stability.

There was no protest march, as was usual on July 1st.

The authorities had urgently warned against gatherings.

25 years ago Britain gave Hong Kong back to China.

But the city in the southeast remained more democratic than the rest of the communist empire.

Originally, the people of Hong Kong were promised great autonomy until the year 2047, but there is less and less of a sign of it.

Residents had repeatedly demonstrated against the regime in Beijing.

Two years ago, Xi's power apparatus reacted and enacted strict security laws, crushing the democracy movement.

Many of the activists from the former democracy movement have fled, some of them to the capital of the former colonial power: to London.