HONG KONG -- July 1 marks the 26th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty from the U.K. The day used to be one for people to take to the central streets of the city to voice their desire to protect their freedoms, seek democratic rights and more. In 2003, some 500,000 people marched, and succeeded in blocking the implementation of national security legislation.
Although this year was the first anniversary of the handover since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, people stayed off the street to avoid running afoul of the ambiguously worded national security law imposed by Beijing three years ago. The legislation criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, foreign collusion and terrorism. So far, the city's newly created national security forces under its provisions have arrested 260 people.
