Hong Kong celebrates 20 years of reunification

By Shadow Li

Hong Kong passed an important milestone in 2017 as it marked 20 years since the founding of the Special Administrative Region. The period has great resonance as 20 is the time of coming of age in Confucian tradition.

In his address at the celebrations on July 1, President Xi Jinping noted that the destinies of both the city and the nation have always been inextricably linked, and that the past 20 years have seen Hong Kong embark on a journey of unity and common development with the motherland.

The celebrations also saw another historic development as Xi administered the oath of office to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Hong Kong's first female chief executive.

In his address, Xi praised the city's development during the past 20 years, saying it demonstrates that the "one country, two systems" principle is the best arrangement for ensuring Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

He also assured the people of Hong Kong that the central government will unswervingly implement the "one country, two systems" policy and ensure that it is fully applied without being bent or distorted.

In her inaugural speech as the fifth-term Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Lam vowed to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development, and embrace the "one country, two systems" principle.

Lam promised leadership that would capitalize on the opportunities presented by the country's development and to share in the pride engendered by a stronger, more prosperous China.