China’s Xi Jinping swears in new Hong Kong leader John Lee

Chinese President Xi Jinping has officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong’s new leader as the city marked the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule after being pulled in recent years under much tighter Communist Party control (Selim Chtayti/Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong’s new leader as the city marked the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule after being pulled in recent years under much tighter Communist Party control.

John Lee, a former security official who oversaw the crackdown on dissent in the city since 2019 pro-democracy protests, pledged to uphold the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and bear allegiance to Hong Kong. He also pledged to be accountable to the central government in Beijing.