Xi’s speech shows Beijing’s resolve to confront any threat to national unity, academics say
Scholars agree that the president sent a firm message about the city’s pro-independence movement even though he did not directly mention it in his report
President Xi Jinping’s reference to Beijing’s “comprehensive jurisdiction” over Hong Kong shows the central leadership is determined to curb any threat against national unity in the city, according to academics and pro-establishment lawmakers.
In Xi’s report on Wednesday, he did not explicitly warn against the pro-independence sentiment in Hong Kong. But the president said Beijing’s authority over Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the two cities’ high degree of autonomy must be “combined in an organic manner”.
China aims to outspend the world in artificial intelligence, and Xi Jinping just green lit the plan
Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of The Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said Xi was reminding Hong Kong people that when they remember the city’s semi-autonomous powers, such as the power to maintain an independent judiciary, they must also bear in mind that Beijing is not “completely hands-off”.
“For example, it has the power on the cities’ defence, foreign affairs … as well as the power to assess legislations reported by the Legislative Council,” Lau said.
“He’s saying Hong Kong’s power comes from the central government, Hong Kong and Beijing must work together to uphold ‘one country, two systems’ … and fulfil their responsibility in safeguarding national sovereignty and security.”
Xi did not touch on any pro-independence sentiment in Hong Kong, but said Beijing would not allow anyone to “separate any part of the Chinese territory from China”.
Lau said he was not surprised that Xi refrained from directly mentioning Hong Kong’s pro-independence movement because his speech on Wednesday was a blueprint for an entire nation.
