London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Macau handover anniversary: Xi Jinping begins visit by heaping praise on city for sticking to ‘one country, two systems’ policy

Macau has ‘fully and accurately’ implemented Beijing’s governing formula and defended national security, Chinese leader says. No mention of Hong Kong, which has been interpreted as disapproval of the city as it continues to be rocked by anti-government protests

China’s President Xi Jinping began a three-day visit to Macau on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, heaping praise on the city’s government for “fully and accurately” implementing the “one country, two systems” principle under which it is administered and for defending national security.

Xi made no mention of neighbouring Hong Kong, which has been rocked by anti-government and anti-Beijing protests since June, but his contrasting compliments for Macau were widely interpreted as disapproval of the former British colony’s performance.

Hours before his arrival, six activists and at least six more journalists from Hong Kong were denied entry to Macau as the authorities placed the city under an unprecedented security lockdown.

Xi, visiting Macau for the second time since 2014, is expected to announce new policies aimed at diversifying the casino hub’s economy and developing it into an international financial centre.

“The achievement and progress that Macau has made after returning to the motherland has made people feel proud,” the president declared in his opening remarks upon landing at Macau’s airport.

Xi said Macau, which was run by the Portuguese until December 1999, had been serious about implementing one country, two systems with its own characteristics. Under the principle, which applies to Hong Kong as well, the two cities are promised a high degree of autonomy under Chinese rule.

In his four-minute speech, Xi urged Macau residents to work together and map out a “beautiful blueprint” for the city’s future development.

According to the official Xinhua news agency, Xi told Macau’s outgoing leader Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on that his administration had “fully and accurately” implemented its governing formula, and worked in accordance with China’s constitution and the city’s own Basic Law, or mini-constitution.

Xi hailed the Macau government for its achievements in many areas, including defending national security, maintaining social stability, fostering economic development, improving people’s lives, and deepening co-operation with mainland China. The central government fully recognised Chui’s work, the president said.

Macau passed its national security bill under Article 23 of the Basic Law without any public backlash and large-scale protests in 2009. Hong Kong’s government tried to do the same in 2003, but was forced to give up when half a million people took to the streets fearing their rights and freedoms would be undermined.

Chui will be succeeded by Ho Iat-seng, the former president of the city’s legislature.

Macau-based commentator Larry So Man-yum said the “characteristics” that Xi noted the city had applied in adhering to its governing formula referred to political stability.

He said it was clear from Xi’s remarks, and the financial policies he was expected to unveil, that Beijing considered Macau the “good boy” deserving to be rewarded, unlike “bad boy” Hong Kong.

“His message was that the one country, two systems itself is not a failure. It’s only that Hong Kong did not make it work as Beijing wanted. Macau succeeded,” So said.

China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu also saw Xi’s remarks as silent criticism of Hong Kong.

“Xi was implying Macau has done a better job than Hong Kong in implementing the one country, two systems principle, as it has closely followed Beijing’s orders, something that Hong Kong has failed to do for some reasons,” Lau said.

Macau’s economy is heavily reliant on its casino industry. Last year, about 80 per cent of the government’s revenue came from gaming tax.

Heightened security for Xi’s visit saw six activists from opposition group the League of Social Democrats barred from boarding a ferry to Macau at a Hong Kong pier.

After purchasing Turbojet ferry tickets on Wednesday morning, they staged a protest at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal. While trying to get past the Hong Kong immigration checkpoint, activist Raphael Wong Ho-ming said, they were told by the officers and ferry staff that they were not welcome by the Macau government.

They still managed to get past the checkpoint but once at the boarding area, a ferry staff member gave them a statement from Macau police.

The statement was addressed to the ferry company, requesting its help to bar the six from taking the ferry because intelligence had shown the group planned to visit Macau to sabotage anniversary activities. The operator would have to bear legal consequences if it did not cooperate, the statement said.

“Macau police will resolutely ban these people from entering Macau to carry out illegal activities,” the statement read.

Wong said the incident “shows Macau can never truly become an international financial centre, for it does not allow peaceful protests”.

Also on Wednesday, six Hong Kong journalists from RTHK, Commercial Radio, Now TV, TVB and Apple Daily were all denied entry to Macau. They were told there were strong signs they would engage in activities that would jeopardise safety and public order in Macau.

All of them, except one TVB journalist, had registered with the Macau government to cover the handover ceremonies from Wednesday to Friday.

Before the journalists were denied entry, the Macau police asked them for personal details including their addresses, parents’ names, marital statuses, and purpose of visit.

Another RTHK reporter was let in on Wednesday. But that was after he was asked by police to sign a statement allowing officers to check his phone. They looked at his photo album, as well as his Facebook, Instagram and other social media accounts.

Police also inspected the journalist’s WhatsApp chat history and asked whether he had installed Telegram, another messaging app that has become popular during more than six months of protests in Hong Kong.

He was allowed in after 2½ hours.

RTHK expressed deep regret over the restrictions and said it did not understand the denial of entry because the journalist had received prior approval from the Macau government to cover the ceremonies.

Commercial Radio said its journalists had always been law-abiding and serious about their work. Covering the handover anniversary would not harm Macau’s public safety and order, the broadcaster said.

Now TV expressed regret and frustration as well.

On Tuesday, a Post reporter was denied entry, one day after another Now TV journalist was similarly barred.

In a statement, the Hong Kong News Executive Association said the Macau handover was a major news event and journalists had the responsibility to cover it. The association said it was unacceptable that the Macau authorities saw the rejected journalists as posing security threats.

It urged the Macau government to explain clearly the reasons why the reporters were rejected, and to put measures in place to prevent similar incidents in future.

In an open letter, the Hong Kong Journalists Association urged Macau and Beijing authorities to respect press freedom. It expressed regret over the entry restrictions and said journalists were not troublemakers.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×