Reported 12 months ago
The flag-raising ceremony was held at the Golden Bauhinia Square on the morning of July 1, 2024, with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong, and former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in attendance. This July 1 marks the 27th anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Lam announced at the celebration that the Hong Kong government had completed the legislation under the Basic Law Article 23 and that Beijing would be sending another pair of pandas to Hong Kong. The government has been focusing on enhancing governance, strengthening development momentum, addressing livelihood issues, and maintaining harmony and stability. Following the anti-extradition bill protests, the National Security Law was implemented in 2020, leading to the dissolution of various civil groups, including Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), and the absence of July 1 marches for five consecutive years. The Hong Kong government recently condemned and raised the travel alert level to Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China (orange), acknowledging the impact of the National Security Law on Hong Kong's status. The Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman, Lin Wen-jie, expressed concerns about the impact of Hong Kong's current so-called national security law and other laws on its status, emphasizing the need to prevent further deterioration of the situation. The statement noted the limitations on the freedom of assembly and procession, as well as the practice of self-censorship in Hong Kong. Regarding the Golden Melody Awards singer Bonnie's reference to Tiananmen Square during her acceptance speech, which triggered sensitivities across the Taiwan Strait, the Golden Melody Awards Facebook page faced criticisms for not fully presenting the incident, with allegations of self-censorship. The Ministry of Culture clarified the situation, with Minister Li Yuan emphasizing the presence of freedom of speech in Taiwan for the past two decades, stating that self-censorship was almost impossible for individuals with his background. The Mainland Affairs Council reminded artists and singers from mainland China to not be overly nervous about references to Tiananmen Square, as excessive caution could hinder cross-strait exchanges; they remained open to visits from mainland artists and singers and called for everyone to remain calm.
Source: YAHOO