Chinese President Xi Jinping to officiate at Hong Kong’s 25th handover anniversary ceremony – but it could be a day visit

President Xi Jinping will officiate at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule and swear in the administration of incoming leader John Lee Ka-chiu, with top officials hailing his attendance as a sign of his commitment and support for the city.

Following weeks of speculation on the president’s involvement in the July 1 events, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday morning that Xi would “attend a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government”.

Xi’s visit, his first outside mainland China since the pandemic started in 2020, will mark the second time he has presided over anniversary events in Hong Kong and the swearing-in ceremony of a new city leader since becoming China’s president in 2013.

In 2017, Xi led the swearing-in of the city’s fourth chief executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and her cabinet on July 1.

Outgoing leader Lam, Chief Executive-designate John Lee Ka-chiu and incoming ministers issued statements extending their welcome and gratitude to the president almost immediately after the announcement.

But Xinhua’s statement raised eyebrows for not disclosing a set of dates for his visit, raising the possibility it could be a day trip or that his plans had yet to be finalised.

The statement, which cited Xi’s other titles of general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, departed from the one announcing his 2017 visit which reported he would “go” to Hong Kong from June 29 to July 1 and “inspect” the city.