- Title: A timeline of Hong Kong since its 1997 handover to China
- Date: 21st June 2017
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JULY 1, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PROTESTERS GATHERED IN HONG KONG'S VICTORIA PARK PEOPLE WAITING TO MARCH VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING Two years later, on July 1, 2014, tens of thousands of people gathered in Hong Kong to demand greater democracy and freedom from Beijing's control. A "white paper" released by Beijing asserting the central government's authority over the city enraged many of those who marched. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - AUGUST 31, 2014) (REUTERS) CROWD RALLYING MAN HITTING DRUM, BLOWING WHISTLE STUDENTS STANDING AND SPEAKING ON STAGE, SIGN READING (Chinese) "HOPE LIES WITH THE PEOPLE. CHANGE BEGINS WITH DISOBEDIENCE" PEOPLE RALLYING PROTESTER CHEERING Despite protests though, Beijing stood firm with its plans to only allow people to vote for candidates screened by a committee stacked with Beijing loyalists. Pro-democracy activists vowed to bring the city's financial hub to a standstill through 'peaceful' means if their demands were not met by August 31, 2014. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 28, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TEAR GAS BEING THROWN AT PROTESTERS RIOT POLICE KETTLING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY FROM TEAR GAS On September 28, 2014, Hong Kong police clashed with pro-democracy protesters by throwing tear gas bombs. The last time police had fired tear gas was in 2005 during an anti-globalisation protest. Protesters had been trying to break a police blockade shutting in the core leaders of the Occupy Central protest group. The sit-ins lasted 79 days, putting the city's central business district at a standstill. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - MAY 19, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES CO-CHAIRMAN, THOMAS KWOK, ENTERING HIGH COURT FORMER CHIEF SECRETARY, RAFAEL HUI ENTERING COURT
- 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: LVA0086M94APX
- 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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