Hong kong: The leader of Hong Kong warned against "destructive forces engaging in soft resistance" as the city commemorated the 26th anniversary of the transfer of power from the British to the Chinese on Saturday.
In 1997, Britain handed over its long-standing colony to China as part of a 50-year governance arrangement known as "one country, two systems," which ensured fundamental liberties and some degree of independence.
The freedom of assembly is one of these rights that distinguishes Hong Kong from the mainland, and July 1 used to be a day of protests for the city's outspoken civil society.
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However, after significant and occasionally violent pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, China enacted a broad national security law that—when combined with legal amendments that put "patriots" in charge—effectively eliminated most dissent from Hong Kong life.
John Lee, a former security chief who is now a leader, claimed on Saturday that while Hong Kong was "largely stable" at the moment, it was still being targeted by nations opposed to China's rise.
At a commemorative event, Lee stated, "There are also destructive forces engaging in soft resistance concealed within Hong Kong."
"In order to safeguard national security, we must maintain our vigilance and take the initiative ourselves."
Additionally, he claimed that the financial centre, whose economy had been severely damaged by pandemic-related border closures that had cut it off from the rest of the world, was on the "fast lane to resuming normality."
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Lee added that he anticipated GDP to grow "around 3.5 to 5.5 percent" in 2023. "Over the past year, the government has led Hong Kong out from the shadow of the pandemic, cultivating confidence and hope amid a difficult experience," Lee said.
Lee, who is in charge of leading Hong Kong's security response to the 2019 protests, was sworn in as the city's chief executive on July 1 of last year after winning the election with Beijing's support and without facing any opposition.
While other economies were reopening, Hong Kong continued to follow China's zero-COVID strategy for almost three years, despite the fact that the city's pandemic restrictions hurt business and caused a brain drain.
However, when the highly contagious omicron variant broke through the city's defences in late 2021, health experts claimed it had some of the highest coronavirus death rates in the world. This was largely because of low vaccination rates, particularly among elderly people who are reluctant to get shots.
In contrast to previous years, when hundreds of thousands of residents would participate in a march to express their political and social grievances, Hong Kong's streets were relatively quiet on Saturday.
Police reported that they did not receive any requests for public processions on Saturday.
More than 6,000 police officers were reportedly stationed throughout the city, according to local media, to maintain order.
Authorities "reminded" five activists, according to AFP, not to hold any protests on July 1 or in the days leading up to the anniversary.
Two of the activists, who asked for anonymity out of concern for retaliation, claimed that the conversations took place in police stations and were brief.
Numerous opposition leaders have been imprisoned, removed from office, or relocated abroad since the national security law went into effect. Many Western nations and other critics claim Beijing has effectively broken its promise to uphold Hong Kong's autonomy.
Officials from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, however, have defended the security law and legal amendments as being essential to reestablishing order and insisting that civil liberties are preserved.
In the meantime, local officials have made an effort to project a festive mood for the anniversary by providing restaurant discounts, free museum admission and free public transportation.
