A National Security Law Research Report was released in Taiwan on June 30, a day before the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China. The report was conducted by an anonymous Hong Kong research team.

A police officer raises his pepper spray handgun as he detains a man during a march against the national security law at the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong, on July 1, 2020.

Brian Leung Kai-ping gestures after protesters broke into the parliament chamber of the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019, on the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China.

One week later on June 16, two million protesters joined the second CHRF-organized march even after the bill was suspended by Lam, followed by over 550,000 protesters on July 1, which was the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese

Attendees from various forces march next to a banner supporting the new national security law at the end of a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020.

Riot police deploy pepper spray toward journalists on the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China as protesters gathered for a rally against the new National Security Law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020.

A police officer raises his pepper spray handgun as he detains a man during a march against the national security law at the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong, on July 1, 2020.

Riot police clear the streets outside the Legislative Council building, after protesters stormed the building on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, in Hong Kong, China, on July 2, 2019.

on both sides of the Taiwan strait, and Hong Kong people’s identity.

Hundreds of protesters stormed the legislature building in Hong Kong on the 22nd anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule on July 1, smashing up glass doors to break in.

In 2003, on the anniversary of the handover, a massive crowd of 500,000 Hongkongers protested against Beijing’s attempts to introduce an “anti-subversion” clause into Hong Kong’s Basic Law—the city’s mini-constitution—which many Hongkongers believed would

It was the 24th year since the handover of Hong Kong. It was also the day the Chinese Communist Party celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of Communist China and the anniversary of the Hong Kong National Security Law imposition.

handover to Chinese rule.

“As the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to Beijing approaches, Hong Kong’s freedoms are diminishing,” Blinken said.

He said that this year, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the handover of sovereignty that occurred on July 1, 1997, “In May and June, Hong Kong’s 'minded' people and the national security police may do a lot more outrageous things.”

, in Hong Kong, China, on May 20, 2020.

If you read Xi Jinping's speech in Hong Kong on July 1, 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of the British handover, you will see that the guiding ideology of "the second return" had been systematized at that time.

Riot police detain people after they cleared protesters taking part in a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020, on the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China.

Riot police pepper spray journalists on the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China as protesters gathered for a rally against the new National Security Law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020.

of Hong Kong.

Attendees from various forces march next to a banner supporting the new National Security Law at the end of a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020.

July 1 marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China.

Chen's dismissal could also be linked with his influence in Hong Kong and Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to mark the anniversary of the handover.   In 2003, Chen was put in charge of the Ministry of Public Security's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

Riot police deploy pepper spray toward journalists on the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China as protesters gathered for a rally against the new National Security Law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020.

More than half a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong on July 1—the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover from British to Chinese rule—to demand a controversial extradition bill be scrapped.

On the 25 anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China,  China Leader Xi Jinping was supposed to be spending time with all former chief executives during his two-day visit.

Never Severing Ties In a show of frustration at the Hong Kong government’s failure to listen to its residents, on July 1—the 22nd anniversary of the city’s handover—protesters broke through the entrance to the legislature building and stormed inside,

On the 20th anniversary of the handover this year, China’s Foreign Ministry declared the Joint Declaration a “historical document that no longer has any realistic meaning.”

He said on June 28: "It could be that they want to tidy up the stock market before July 1 [the anniversary of Hong Kong handover] ... and also to crack down on the disloyal and corrupt guys; that's another possibility."

The day also marked the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China. According to the Security Bureau, more than 150 people have been arrested under the national security law. Among them, 100 people have been formally charged.