- Title: A timeline of Hong Kong since its 1997 handover to China
- Date: 21st June 2017
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF WINNING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES ON STAGE September 5, 2016, saw fresh faces elected to Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo). Residents voted in record numbers with several more radical democratic candidates winning seats. The pro-democracy opposition retained its crucial one-third veto bloc in the 70-seat LegCo. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - OCTOBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) PRO-INDEPENDENCE LAWMAKERS BAGGIO LEUNG (LEFT) AND YAU WAI CHING (RIGHT) SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS YAU SITTING Shortly after the elections, two pro-independence lawmakers, Yau Wai-ching, 25 and Baggio Leung, 30, were barred from entering the chamber after their swearing-in oaths were invalidated over language and a banner that was deemed derogatory to China. The pair were taken to court by a government-led judicial review to strip them of their position. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - NOVEMBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS GATHERING IN PLAYGROUND PROTESTER WEARING BANNER READING (English): "HONG KONG IS NOT CHINA" PROTESTERS LEAVING PLAYGROUND AND HOLDING PLACARDS PROTESTERS MARCHING DOWN STREET POLICE OFFICER SPEAKING INTO MICROPHONE AND TELLING PROTESTERS THEY ARE ACTING ILLEGALLY The Hong Kong government said that the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress would consider provisions of the city's Basic Law - Hong Kong's mini constitution - related to political allegiance to try and end the independence movement led by Yau and Leung. Over 10,000 people marched the streets in November 6, 2016, to protest Beijing's plans to reinterpret an article of the Basic Law. China's parliament interpreted the Basic Law saying that oaths for Hong Kong lawmakers must be taken accurately, sincerely and solemnly for them to be valid. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - NOVEMBER 13, 2016) (REUTERS) PARTICIPANTS GATHERED OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT OFFICES FOR RALLY PEOPLE WAVING RED FLAGS PLACARD READING (Chinese): "OPPOSE THOSE WHO INSULT CHINA/OPPOSE HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHOUTING SLOGANS/WAVING CHINA FLAG Days after the move, on November 13, thousands of Beijing supporters rallied outside the government offices opposing the Hong Kong independence movement, making it one of the largest gatherings of pro-Beijing supporters. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - NOVEMBER 15, 2016) (REUTERS) MEDIA OUTSIDE HONG KONG COURT VARIOUS OF YAU HOLDING COPY OF JUDGE RULING AFTER BEING DISQUALIFIED On November 15, 2016, Hong Kong's High Court disqualified two pro-independence lawmakers from taking office, ruling their oath of allegiance invalid in a judgment in step with Beijing's interpretation of the Basic law. Democratically elected legislators Yau and Leung have had their appeals turned down. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - FEBRUARY 2, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, WHERE CHINA-BORN BILLIONAIRE XIAO JIANHUA WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED FROM AND TAKEN TO MAINLAND CHINA Days after the Lunar New Year in February, reports surfaced that a China-born billionaire had disappeared from his luxury Hong Kong serviced apartment. Xiao Jianhua, who has close ties with senior Chinese officials and their relatives runs Tomorrow Holdings, a financial group headquartered in Beijing. Media reports said he was abducted from the Four Seasons serviced apartments by Chinese public security agents and taken to the mainland. The disappearance provoked renewed fears of mainland China's interference with Hong Kong affairs. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - FEBRUARY 22, 2017) (REUTERS) PRISON VAN CARRYING FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE DONALD TSANG PULLING OUT OF COURT, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA PRISON VAN DRIVER WITH TSANG SITTING IN BACK OF VAN FAMILY OF TSANG WALKING OUT OF COURT On February 22, 2017, former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang was jailed for 20 months for misconduct in public office, making him the highest-ranking ex-official to be sentenced. The sentence brought an ignominious end to what had been a long and stellar career for Tsang. His family walked out of court grim-faced but said they will appeal against the decision.
- Embargoed: 5th July 2017 02:50
- Keywords: Hong Kong Handover timeline politics election
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00D6M94APX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:On July 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend ceremonial events in Hong Kong to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover from British rule.
He is expected to perform the swearing-in of the territory's next Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam.
Lam was elected in March this year by a 1,200-strong committee, stacked mostly with Beijing loyalists, to become the city's first female leader. She has vowed to 'heal social divisions' at a time when tensions with China are on the rise.
As the fourth chief executive since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule 20 years ago, Lam will need to restore the public's faith in the "one country, two systems" formula that promises extensive autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland.
That principle has come under strain with what many residents see as creeping interference by China in the financial hub's legal affairs and freedom of speech, not least with the shadowy detention of five Hong Kong booksellers in late 2015 and Chinese-born billionaire Xiao Jianhua in January.
The city will be under heavy security for the handover anniversary, but that's not likely to deter the thousands of protesters expected to march in the annual anti-government protest. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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