Full text of President Xi Jinping’s speech on ‘one country, two systems’ and how China rules Hong Kong

After swearing in new government, Xi lauds city’s prosperity, notes livelihood issues and sets out central government’s ‘red lines’ on local politics

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Xi Jinping addressed a crowd at the convention centre in Wan Chai. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 3:13pm, 1 Jul 2017Updated: 7:24pm, 6 Jun 2019

President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Saturday July 1, after he inaugurated the new Hong Kong administration led by Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the first woman to lead the city. He issued the clearest warning yet against challenges to China’s sovereignty by forces in Hong Kong, calling it a “red line”. He also asked the new administration to focus its energies on development, which he said would be the key to resolving Hong Kong’s problems. The following is a transcript of what Xi said.

Fellow compatriots,

Dear friends,

Today, we are meeting on this solemn and joyous occasion to both celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and hold the inaugural ceremony of the fifth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

First of all, on behalf of the central government and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, I wish to extend our cordial greetings to all the people in Hong Kong and our warm congratulations to Madam Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly inaugurated fifth-term chief executive of the HKSAR, principal officials of the fifth-term HKSAR government and members of the Executive Council. I also express our heartfelt thanks to all our fellow Chinese, both at home and abroad, and foreign friends for their good wishes and support to Hong Kong.

Meeting here on the shores of Hong Kong, which have stood the test of time and seen profound changes, we are filled with thoughts and emotions, as we reflect on the extraordinary journey we have taken to get where we are today.