‘Risen from the ashes’: Xi Jinping hails Hong Kong’s resilience, praises vitality of ‘one country, two systems’

President Xi Jinping hailed Hong Kong for having “risen from the ashes” as he began his long-anticipated visit on Thursday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” governing principle for a “bright future”.

The president, who travelled to Hong Kong with first lady Peng Liyuan on a high-speed train from neighbouring Shenzhen, had a busy first day holding separate meetings with government officials, legislators, judges, representatives from the disciplined services, business leaders and others from various sectors.

“The whole Chinese nation is celebrating this happy occasion with Hong Kong residents,” Xi said in his opening remarks as he stepped off the train to a warm welcome by hundreds of flag-waving primary school pupils and others at the West Kowloon terminus on Thursday afternoon.

Departing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her successor, John Lee Ka-chiu, were at the station to receive the president on his first trip outside mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Accompanied by mainland officials including Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ding Xuexiang, director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi said the city had been on his mind and in his heart since his last visit five years ago.

“In the past few years, Hong Kong has gone through various severe tests one after another, and has overcome risks and challenges one after another,” Xi said without directly referring to the anti-government protest chaos of 2019 which eventually ended after Beijing imposed the national security law on the city.

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“After the wind and rain, Hong Kong has risen from the ashes, and showed strong vibrancy. These facts prove that one country, two systems has strong vitality, which has ensured the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and safeguarded the well-being of compatriots in Hong Kong,” he said. “One country, two systems is a good system.”

Xi used a quote from ancient Chinese philosopher Xunzi – “Through perseverance, the future is promising” – to make his point about the unique governing formula that allows Hong Kong to retain its own capitalist system and promises a high degree of autonomy for another 25 years at least.

“As long as we unswervingly uphold one country, two systems, Hong Kong’s future will surely be brighter. Hong Kong, for sure, will make new and greater contributions to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” he said.

Parts of the city were placed under a tight security blanket on Thursday, with roads blocked and police out in force, while a typhoon warning remained in place because of an approaching tropical storm.

The president later spent an hour inspecting the Science Park in Tai Po, where he was briefed on the city’s information and technology development in recent years, and spoke to science and technology professionals and youth entrepreneurs.

On a significant note, Xi held an unprecedented meeting with about 100 officers from the city’s six disciplined services, including heads and staff representatives, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

It was seen as reflecting Beijing’s appreciation for their work and restoring law and order after the turmoil of 2019.

During his meeting with business leaders, the president did not give a speech laying down his expectations like he had during his last visit five years ago.

He only briefly attended a photo-taking session with the group, including CK Hutchison Holdings chairman Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, Henderson Land co-chairman Peter Lee Ka-kit and Sino Land chairman Robert Ng.

In a subsequent meeting with the outgoing chief executive, Xi praised Carrie Lam for fulfilling her constitutional responsibilities “in a loyal manner” over the past five years and noted that her efforts were “fully recognised” by Beijing.

He hailed her “willingness to shoulder responsibilities” as well as her efforts to “stop violence and chaos, fight the pandemic with full force, integrate with the country’s development plan and safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests and Hong Kong stability”.

Xi expressed hope that Lam would “continue to contribute” to the development of Hong Kong and the country, and actively support the new administration.

The president also met former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, lauding him for devoting himself to the modernisation of the country and Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability as a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi had also “specially commissioned relevant parties to convey his greetings” to Tung Chee-hwa, the city’s first chief executive and also a vice-chairman of the CPPCC, who has not been able to attend this year’s handover celebrations due to illness.

First lady Peng made a separate visit to the city’s new complex for Chinese theatre, the Xiqu Centre at the West Kowloon Cultural District, where she was treated to a brief Cantonese opera performance.

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Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of semi-official think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, noted the crux of Xi’s message about one country, two systems.

“It’s a system that the central government is adhering to in the long run because it’s good for both the country and Hong Kong,” Lau said.

Lau said Xi’s expressions of care and concern for Hongkongers indicated that Beijing would continue to help resolve problems that the city could not handle on its own.

Ip Kwok-him, a member of departing chief executive Lam’s de facto cabinet, said: “Xi’s visit to Hong Kong at the halfway mark of Beijing’s pledge to implement one country, two systems for at least 50 years, is an indication of the central government’s confidence that it is the right path for Hong Kong.”

Following the imposition of the national security law two years ago, and under the tight security blanket for Xi’s visit, no opposition parties applied to hold any protest.

Without commenting directly on Xi’s remarks, the Democratic Party, the city’s biggest and oldest opposition group, said it still believed a high degree of autonomy under one country, two systems was still the best arrangement for Hong Kong.

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“We trust the people of Hong Kong, and we hope the central government and the Hong Kong government share this trust in the people,” the party wrote in a statement marking the 25th handover anniversary.

“When the government does not trust the people and tightens its grip on society with laws and even encourages people to monitor one another, this will only deepen mutual distrust. The peace and silence are only superficial and do not help solve disputes.”

President Xi wrapped up his first in Hong Kong with a dinner with the city’s departing and incoming leaders.

He then headed back to Shenzhen for the night, and was expected to return to the city on Friday morning to attend the main handover anniversary ceremony and oversee the swearing-in of John Lee and his cabinet.