Hong Kong marks 25th handover anniversary

The security in Hong Kong is at unprecedented levels on Friday, with a heavy police presence, roadblocks and a ban on drones.

Taking no chances for protests or disruption as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits the city, police have shut down areas close to key venues. Pedestrian footbridges, highways and a train station in some of the busiest areas of the city were temporarily closed on Thursday and Friday.

A no-fly zone has been established across the city’s harbor, with drone use restricted throughout Xi’s visit.

Authorities have also heavily restricted media access to the handover celebrations, a far cry from the open reporting environment and freewheeling local press of years past.

According to the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), at least 10 journalists working for local and international organizations had their applications to cover the events rejected for “security reasons.”

On the ground: In Hong Kong's Wan Chai district, police presence was heavily visible Friday morning despite the quietness surrounding closed-off areas near the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, where high-profile events are taking place today.

Officers in groups of four patrolled footbridges, sidewalks and subway stations and exits at the commercial districts of Admiralty and Wan Chai.

Meanwhile, a public service announcement reminded passengers that trains will not stop at the Exhibition Centre station “to ensure the public safety” of handover anniversary celebration events.

John Lee, who became the face of Hong Kong's national security law and who oversaw the arrests of dozens of activists and raids on newsrooms, today replaces outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam as the city's leader

In what the government billed as an "open, just and honest" election, a largely government-appointed, pro-Beijing committee of 1,461 people appointed Lee the next leader for the city's 7.5 million residents in a May 8 vote. Lee was the only person in the running, in contrast to previous years that saw run-offs between multiple candidates.

For many, Lee's ascension speaks volumes about the direction Hong Kong — once world-renowned for its robust press, flourishing civil society and democratic aspirations — is headed. Lee has already indicated that he will look to introduce further national security legislation and possibly a law against fake news.

To Nathan Law, a human rights activist and former local lawmaker now in self-exile in Britain, it seems "very obvious" why Lee is tipped for the role.

Read more about John Lee here.

Former security chief and hardline police officer John Lee has been sworn in as Hong Kong's new Chief Executive by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. 

Lee was selected from a largely government-appointed, pro-Beijing committee of 1,461 people to be the next leader for the city's 7.5 million residents in May.

He was the only person in the running, in contrast to previous years that saw run-offs between multiple candidates.

Lee, who begins his five-year term on Friday, has promised to usher in a "new chapter together," stressing the importance of community and promising to "make Hong Kong a place of hope."

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived for the start of the 25th handover ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday to a brass band playing the Chinese national anthem.

Xi will oversee the inauguration of Hong Kong's new Chief Executive John Lee today.

Journalists from leading international media organizations, including Reuters and CNN, have been barred from covering official ceremonies during Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to Hong Kong.

According to the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), at least 10 reporters working for local and international organizations had their applications to cover the events rejected for "security reasons."

Reuters, Agence France-Press (AFP), and the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post were among the outlets whose reporters were blocked from covering the ceremonies, according to the HKJA.

CNN has contacted the media companies for comment. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said authorities were striking "a balance as far as possible between the need of media work and security requirements."

Reuters reported that two of its journalists had been barred from covering the handover ceremony and inauguration of incoming Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee. It cited a Reuters spokeswoman as saying the news agency was seeking further information on the matter.

CNN's application to attend the events was also rejected.

Journalists who had their applications denied would not be able to cover the national flag raising ceremony and the swearing in of Lee, the city's new leader and former security chief.

The government's Information Services Department issued invitations to news organizations on June 16, allowing only one journalist per outlet to cover each event.

Covid measures: Each media representative was required to conduct daily PCR tests starting June 26 — before official approval or rejections were issued on June 28 — and to go into hotel quarantine on June 29 as part of coronavirus-related prevention measures.

Read the full story here.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has arrived in Hong Kong for the second day of events marking the city's 25th handover anniversary and the swearing in of its new Beijing-appointed leader, former security chief and police officer John Lee. 

Xi's motorcade was seen on Friday by a CNN team on the ground after having crossed the city's border with mainland China, indicating he did not stay the night in Hong Kong.

The Chinese leader is expected to attend the swearing in of the new Chief Executive and make a speech during the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

Tight security measures for Xi's visit include a heavy police presence, roadblocks and a ban on drones. He is also separated from the public by a "closed loop" system — designed to protect him against Covid-19. 

This visit to Hong Kong marks Xi’s first trip outside mainland China since the start of the pandemic.

Hong Kong woke to dark skies on July 1, as Typhoon Chaba edged closer to the city, dimming the already muted tone for the 25th handover anniversary brought by heightened security and Covid-19 restrictions.

No signs of coordinated gatherings were seen at the Tamar Park harborfront, adjacent to the Hong Kong government's offices on Friday morning — a stark contrast to the lively pro-democracy protests on this day of years gone by.

About a dozen joggers ran along the waterfront, occasionally stopping to take photos of the police marine vessels dotting the the harbor.

A trio of photography enthusiasts came to watch the police vessels and helicopters that held guard over Hong Kong during the flag raising ceremony.

A handful of Beijing's supporters were also at the park.

Paul Choi waved the national flag of China alongside two others, who had donned face masks with the print of the flag.

No applications have been made by pro-democracy organizations to stage peaceful protests during Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to Hong Kong, according to the city's police.

He added that "resolute actions" would be taken against anyone who threatens "public order." 

National security law: Most Hong Kong pro-democracy groups have disbanded following the enactment of the city's sweeping national security law two years ago. A subsequent crackdown saw nearly all of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy figures, including activists and politicians, either jailed or forced into exile. 

The controversial law was passed by Beijing on June 30, 2020, following a year of mass anti-government protests in Hong Kong. It criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security — with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for all four.

Critics of the legislation say it has been used to silence all dissent against the Hong Kong government, which has repeatedly defended the law, saying it has restored order to the city following the 2019 protests.

No protests: The League of Social Democrats, a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong, said Tuesday it would not stage any protests as the city marks the 25th anniversary of the handover to Chinese rule.

Some context: The League of Social Democrats has staged a number of small protests since the national security law came into effect. On June 4 this year, the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, three members of the party briefly staged a demonstration in Hong Kong before they were arrested by police.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has criticized the "dismantling" of freedoms in Hong Kong, as the city marks its 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's 1997 handover from Britain to Chinese rule.

Blinken referenced the 2019 pro-democracy protests that rocked the city for six months, which were followed the next year by a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing.

Blinken said the law "set the stage for an erosion of autonomy and dismantling of the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents over the last two years."

The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms. Instead, it insists the law has ended chaos and restored stability to the city.