Xi Jinping’s rallying cry to Hong Kong: Believe in yourselves, your city and your country

President acknowledges city’s problems but calls for rational rather than emotional approach to solving them

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Xi conceded “problems” had arisen from the unique political model that has governed Hong Kong since its handover to Chinese sovereign in 1997. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 8:00am, 1 Jul 2017Updated: 8:05am, 1 Jul 2017

President Xi Jinping has appealed to Hongkongers to believe in themselves, their city and their country, acknowledging many problems but promising support to overcome them and unwavering determination to uphold the “one country, two systems” policy.

Xi conceded yesterday that “problems” had arisen from the unique political model that has governed Hong Kong since its handover to Chinese sovereign in 1997, but he urged people to analyse and resolve them “rationally”.

The messages were delivered in two speeches when he met Hong Kong’s business, political and social elite on the second day of his three-day visit to join the handover celebrations and swear in a new government today.

The day also saw Xi inspect the biggest parade by the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong since the handover, symbolic in showcasing the nation’s military might and reflecting the importance of the city in Beijing’s eyes.

When he ceremonially greeted the troops, their reply was an unprecedented “hello, chairman” instead of the traditional “hello, leader”, a reference to his position as the head of China’s armed forces.