Hong Kong — President Xi Jinping sought to reassure a divided Hong Kong of China’s continued support for the former British colony, as activists called for protests to demonstrate the city’s desire for greater democracy. The president who, on Friday, continued a three-day visit to mark 20 years of Chinese rule, said that Beijing considered the "one country, two systems" framework that underpins Hong Kong’s autonomy a success. At brief and carefully managed public events, he offered warm words to a city that has seen anti-government protests in recent years. "Hong Kong has always been in my heart," Xi, the first president to visit the city since 2012, told reporters moments after arriving on Thursday. "The central government will support Hong Kong’s development, as ever." The trip gives Xi a chance to confront, head on, the debates that have vexed Hong Kong since long before the handover. His early remarks met expectations that he would emphasise the benefits of closer ties, particul...
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