Xi Jinping celebrates ‘loyal’ Macau as Hong Kong looms over handover anniversary

Chinese president Xi Jinping used the 20th anniversary of the handover of Macau from Portuguese control to quietly rebuke Hong Kong yesterday.

Mr Xi closed out a rare three-day visit by praising Macau for its loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and love for the Chinese nation, in contrast to the city state that has been rocked by months of anti-government protests.

Red banners criss-crossing the streets of the territory proclaiming a “warm welcome for leader Xi,” underlined the distinction between Macau and Hong Kong, just an hour’s ferry ride away.

Macau is “a beautiful chapter” under the “one country, two systems arrangement” as its residents have put patriotism ahead of other core values…