The Hong Kong flag was hoisted on a ferry on July 2, 1997, the day after the former British colony returned to Chinese rule.
Romeo Gacad | AFP | Getty Images
On Friday, Beijing proposed changes to “improve” Hong Kong’s electoral system, as Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said China “will resolutely protect itself against and stop interference from outside forces” in the city.
The announcement was made at the start of China’s annual parliamentary meeting “Two Sessions”.
The Chinese government had previously suggested possible changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system, which critics say could contain the city’s pro-democracy politicians.
Last week, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Bureau of the State Council of China, said in a mandarin statement translated by CNBC that “legal loopholes” in the Hong Kong electoral system should be closed so that the city is governed only by “patriots”.
Hong Kong is a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The city is governed under the principle of “one country, two systems”, which gives it greater autonomy than other cities in mainland China, including limited electoral rights.
Beijing has been criticized internationally – by countries like the United States and the United Kingdom – for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy that was promised under the “one country, two systems” structure.
Last year, Beijing circumvented Hong Kong legislation to enact a controversial national security law. The shift came after months of pro-democracy protests in the city, which at times became violent.