‘Piloting ship to weather storm’: Chinese state-run paper highlights ‘vitality’ of Hong Kong’s ‘one country, two systems’ principle ahead of Xi Jinping visit

People’s Daily publishes article titled ‘Unswervingly safeguarding the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong’ ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit

City should be better able to resolve deep-rooted conflicts effectively under a stabilised environment with ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’, article says

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Hong Kong marks the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 1:10pm, 29 Jun 2022Updated: 6:53pm, 29 Jun 2022

The Chinese leadership under Xi Jinping has ensured the steadfast implementation of the “one country, two systems” governing formula in Hong Kong as if it had “piloted a ship to weather the storm and turned danger into safety”, a state-run newspaper said in a lengthy article ahead of the president’s two-day visit to the city.

The article, titled “Unswervingly safeguarding the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong” and published in People’s Daily on Wednesday, also said the city should be better able to resolve deep-rooted conflicts effectively under a stabilised environment with “patriots ruling Hong Kong”.

The 10,000-word article in the Communist Party mouthpiece comes ahead of Xi’s visit, starting Thursday, for Hong Kong’s 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule on July 1 and the swearing-in of Chief Executive-designate John Lee Ka-chiu.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

It will be the president’s first trip outside mainland China since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold about 2½ years ago.

The article, with the byline “reporters”, noted that the 2019 extradition bill saga – which sparked months of social unrest – had dragged Hong Kong into “the most severe situation” since the 1997 handover, seriously threatening national security, the city’s rule of law, and economic and social stability.

It said Xi had decisively addressed both the immediate threats and causes with important measures to bring the city’s development “back on the right track”, referring to the Beijing-imposed national security law and electoral overhaul.

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