Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict

Hong Kong will create its own national security law "as soon as possible", city leader John Lee said Tuesday, adding insurrection and other crimes not covered by existing legislation imposed by Beijing four years ago.

Massive pro-democracy protests rocked the finance hub in 2019, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the streets to call for greater freedoms.

After two years of separation from his wife in mainland China, Hong Kong resident Cheung Seng-bun made sure to be among the first in line following the reopening of border crossing points Sunday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday defended his vision of the "one country, two systems" framework against accusations by the U.S., U.K. and others that Beijing has undermined the freedoms and autonomy promised to Hong Kong for 50 years.

A former security chief who oversaw the crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy movement was anointed the business hub's new leader on Sunday by a small committee of Beijing loyalists.

John Lee, 64, was the only candidate in the Beijing-backed race to succeed outgoing leader Carrie Lam.

China's parliament approved plans on May 28 to impose a security law on Hong Kong that critics say will eradicate the city's promised freedoms.

The vote by the rubber-stamp National People's Congress came hours after the United States revoked the special status conferred on Hong Kong, paving the way for the territory to be stripped of trading and economic privileges.

A measure calling for "powerful" steps to curb Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement was submitted to China's rubber-stamp parliament on May 22, a move expected to fan fresh protests in the semi-autonomous financial hub.    

Joshua Wong (Demosisto) is one of the most prominent faces of Hong Kong's democracy movement and a leading figure in the "Umbrella Movement" which came into being in 2014. Together with hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers, the now 23-year-old is campaigning for free elections, reform of the voting system and democratization of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong authorities activated a newly created "serious response" level on Jan. 4 as fears spread about a mysterious infectious disease that may have been brought back by visitors to a mainland Chinese city.