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Hong Kong Marks 25 Years Since British Handover; John Lee Sworn In As Hong Kong's New Chief Executive; Yair Lapid Takes Over As Israel's Caretaker Prime Minister; NATO Ends Madrid Summit With Message Of Unity; Brittney Griner Has Been Held For More Than Four Months; Hong Kong Marks 25 Years Since British Handover; Supreme Court Rules Biden Can End "Remain in Policy" Policy; January 6th Hearing; Palace Museum Opens. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired July 01, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: And President Xi Jinping makes no apologies for China's iron grip growing ever tight. They did it again. Less than a week after a pack shopping mall was hit by a Russian missile, now a residential building in Ukraine has been targeted.
And sources tell CNN, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson was -- who testified before the January 6th committee this week was the target of multiple attempts of witness tampering.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: Hong Kong is marking 25 years since the former British colony was returned to China. It's also the halfway point in Beijing's promise of one country, two systems, a commitment to allow Hong Kong to keep the freedoms and liberties which were enjoyed under British rule.
On his first trip outside the mainland since the beatings pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Hong Kong for the swearing in of the city's new chief executive John Lee. During his public remarks, she praised the city's response to COVID, defended the very controversial National Security Law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT (through translation): To those who support one country, two systems, support the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, whether you're from Hong Kong or from overseas. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: These images of Hong Kong right now where it is just after 1:00 in the afternoon and Xi Jinping is leaving the convention center after squaring in or overseeing the swearing in of that Chief Executive John Lee, also the swearing in of the government and the Cabinet of the new Hong Kong legislature, which has basically been hand-picked, or most of them Beijing loyalists, not one dissenter, not one opposition group, or representative among them to be seen. This is the new reality of Hong Kong. This is the new politics of Hong Kong.
So what we know about the new incoming chief executive? He took the oath of office, he replaces Carrie Lam. He's a former police officer, chief secretary of security, and he's credited with the harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2019.
This historic day began with the plagues of Hong Kong, and the People's Republic of China simultaneously raised side by side.
Let's go now to CNN's Ivan Watson who is standing by live in Hong Kong. We also have Blake Essig with us also out there in the rain. So naturally, Blake, we'll make you wait. We'll go to Ivan first.
And Ivan, you know, it seems what has been a moment to celebrate a return of stability and an intern unrest for Xi Jinping is also this tragic moment of mourning for the loss of freedoms and liberties, which was a hallmark of Hong Kong.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, you're at this halfway mark, as you pointed out, in this unusual experiment, trying to have a corner of modern day China that is supposed to operate differently from the rest of mainland China. And that did and still does to some degree.
But some of the hallmarks of the freedoms that Hong Kong had enjoyed, the opposition political parties, the human rights organizations, the independent labor unions and newspapers have basically been smothered over the course of the last two years, which has Xi Jinping in his speech and his appointees in the new Hong Kong administration, kind of referred to as this period of chaos, that has now been replaced by as the logo goes for this anniversary, a new era stability, prosperity and opportunity.
That's how they're building this. And the chaos is basically being defined as the dissents that was allowed to exist here for more than 20 years. On July 1st, there was often a pro-democracy, peaceful protests. There was five years ago, the last time Xi Jinping was here, none of that exists anymore. None of that is tolerated anymore. And Xi Jinping says that is better.
Take a listen to an excerpt from his speech today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JINPING (through translation): After going through a period of turbulence, we all deeply feel that Hong Kong cannot afford to be destabilized. And Hong Kong's development cannot be further delayed. We must eliminate all interference and focus on our development.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Xi Jinping is talking about now economic growth. He wants innovation here in Hong Kong. He wants it to start to integrate with what China described as the Greater Bay Area. Other cities along the coastline here.
One of the questions though, is how is that innovation and growth and these new ideas going to come forward when Hong Kong is seeing an exodus of talent and its own residence in part due to the crackdown over the past two years in part due to the onerous zero COVID policies that make this one of the most isolated places in the world.
[01:05:14]
He is also tasked his new handpicked administration with trying to do things like build more housing, which is a chronic problem in this densely populated city. And it's just hard to find ordinary people on the streets of the city that are really genuinely sincerely showing joy on this anniversary. John?
VAUSE: Ivan, thank you.
Let's go to Blake Essig now who's out there in the middle of the rain and the wind and a typhoon warning as well. And Blake, you know, there are many ways to describe Xi Jinping or his powerful leaders. It's now president for life. But none of the people would be a stretch, at least on this trip to Hong Kong.
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, absolutely, John. I mean, the fact that he's here in Hong Kong to check out Hong Kong yet at the same time has been just completely separated from the people of Hong Kong. And as you mentioned, you know, today is a day of celebration here in Hong Kong as the city marks the 25th anniversary of the British handover to China. As you mentioned, the weather, the wind, heavy rains clearly have other ideas as far as the celebration is concerned.
But earlier this morning, we watched several helicopters and government votes parade through the Wan Chai Harbor displaying both the Chinese and Hong Kong flags and spend was seen by those taking part in the handover flag raising ceremony in the build up to the inauguration of Hong Kong's new Chief Executive John Lee. Chinese President Xi Jinping wasn't there for the flag raising ceremony this morning but did take part in the swearing in.
And while the details again of Xi's visit to Hong Kong, you know, really do remain a mystery. We do understand that after the inauguration, he visited the building behind me, the People's Liberation Army building this afternoon before likely heading over to the train station in West Kowloon, one of several stops during his inspection of Hong Kong.
But again, you know, this is a leader, you know, for the past 24 hours has been inspecting the city. He said yesterday that Hong Kong has emerged from the ashes although Hong Kong residents haven't been able to see them and -- see him and whether that's because of COVID concerns or maybe the possibility of domestic terrorism.
The reality here is police aren't letting anyone get anywhere near China's leader. Busy streets had been relatively empty, large water barriers, line certain streets in the police presence all over town has been dramatic. Although today was billed as this big celebration signaling a new chapter in Hong Kong, despite prominent banners and flags all over the city of commercials on TV promoting this day of celebration.
To this point, as Ivan mentioned, you know, the streets of Hong Kong had been quiet as this is clearly a city that's divided one that has changed dramatically since Xi was last here five years ago as a result of the Beijing imposed National Security Law put in place two years ago when it's hard to imagine the rights and freedoms once enjoyed here in Hong Kong will ever actually return, John.
VAUSE: Blake, we appreciate that. Thank you. Also Ivan Watson anyway, there in Hong Kong, thanks to you both. Appreciate your coverage.
John Burns is an emeritus and honorary professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration in Hong Kong University. He joins us now from Hong Kong. Mr. Burns, thank you so much. We appreciate your time.
JOHN BURNS, EMERITUS AND HONORARY PROFESSOR, HONG KONG UNIV.: Thank you.
VAUSE: So John Lee, the incoming chief executive, clearly was speaking to an audience of one and that was Xi Jinping. He's spoken Mandarin, the language of the mainland, not Cantonese, which is the dialect most common in Hong Kong. So for the people who live in Hong Kong, how will that be perceived?
BURNS: Well, I think people have an expectation that this is what -- the way he would address the people of Hong Kong. And so I'm not a bit surprised by this. It is the language of the central government. And he came here to reinforce the authority and the importance of the central government. So I think people here expected to see this just the way it was.
VAUSE: So the message was loud and clear in many ways. And there were a number of moments, which really stood out during his speech, especially when he was talking about recent challenges which Hong Kong has faced. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN LEE, HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE (through translation): Hong Kong has experienced different challenges, including global financial crisis and illegal occupation, central and also the social unrest in 2019. The foreign interference, threatening, stability in Hong Kong and the national security of China.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:10:13]
VAUSE: The fact that he talks about this theory, which is total, you know, it's been debunked, that they're pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, you know, were influenced or fueled by, you know, foreign influence, which threatened China's national security. The fact that he said that during this major speech, what does that say to you about how he intends to deal with, you know, the issue of the protests and who should be held accountable for what is a botched of government response?
BURNS: This, I think, is an absolutely important issue. We have to recognize that the people of Hong Kong also have agency. And what that means is they were pushing for a different kind of political system than a Leninist one party state. So, holding the Hong Kong government to account for its role in the 2019 chaos, and it definitely played a key role, I mean, I think this is very important, but we're unlikely to see this.
This is part of the debased accountability system that we've seen in Hong Kong, and one of the things that Hong Kong has lost.
VAUSE: The changes to everyday life in Hong Kong in recent years extends from schoolchildren now attending patriotic flag raising ceremonies, rerun textbooks, which no longer refer to Hong Kong as a British colony, but rather occupied territory, a ban on public memorials for the victims of Tiananmen Square.
You know, this list just goes on and on and on. And overtime, these measures ultimately rewrite the past, right? It's true Orwellian style, what is not remembered, it never existed. So it's a plan here basically, for future generations to have little or no idea about the freedoms Hong Kong once had?
BURNS: I think the long-term plan is to have the Hong Kong people thinking and realizing their history, their past, just as the people on the mainland do. But Hong Kong is still has relative media autonomy, internet autonomy, and so, people in Hong Kong are aware of what's going on. And so I think this may be a very long-term strategy, but there will be twists and turns to get there.
VAUSE: If one country plays the long-term game, well, it is China. But Professor John Burns, thank you so much, sir, for being with us.
Yair Lapid is now Israel's caretaker prime minister after lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament. After the dissolution, he symbolically switch seats with his predecessor Naftali Bennett. The two leader held a handover ceremony at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Bennett stint as prime minister was one of the shortest in Israeli history. But he says he's happy to hand the job over to his former foreign minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAFTALI BENNETT, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translation): This is a very special role in this state. It does not belong to one person, it belongs to all the people of Israel. And I'm passing to you this holy baton and the responsibility for the State of Israel. And I wish that you will protect it and God will protect you.
YAIR LAPID, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translation): And we have a commitment to the past. And we have a commitment to the future. We have brought the future with us. And we will do our best for a good, strong, prosperous and democratic Jewish state because that is the job and it is greater than any of us. Thank you, my brother.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Lapid will hold on to that job until the elections in November. And as CNN Hadas Gold reports, the new prime minister is no stranger to set the stage and not just in politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Yair Lapid knows what it's like to be in the spotlight. Born into a prominent Israeli family, he's dabbled in acting and screenwriting. Even amateur boxing and music. Before becoming best known as a journalist and anchor.
A regular presence in Israelis living rooms for nearly 20 years. In 2012, he made the jump to politics, founding a party called Yesh Atid, there is a future.
Staking himself out as the leader of Israel secular center left, promising to lower housing costs and military draft exemption for the ultra-orthodox, a supporter of gay rights. He also supports an independent Palestinian state, but doesn't go as far as his left-wing colleagues.
[01:15:03]
LAPID (through translation): The Palestinians will understand that if they want to fulfill the dream of a sovereign state, Jerusalem is the price they will have to pay.
GOLD (voice-over): In 2013, he shocked the political establishment in his first election on the ballot, picking up 19 seats second only to then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.
ANSHEL PFEFFER, JOURNALIST: Yair Lapid is the quintessential product of Tel Aviv, of Israel's main secular city. Its, you know, its main business and culture center, center of nightlife and so on, Yair Lapid, was for many years, really a pillar of the Israeli media community of Israeli entertainment and television business.
GOLD (voice-over): After a stint as finance minister, it was Lapid who ultimately cobbled together the coalition that would finally outs Netanyahu, after 12 years in power, but it came at a price.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking Foreign Language).
GOLD (voice-over): Naftali Bennett would serve as Prime Minister first and Lapid became foreign minister. In the end, the diverse coalition made up of right-leaning and left leaning parties and the first Arab party to sit in a coalition only managed to last a year.
LAPID (through translation): What we need to do today is go back to the concept of Israeli unity, not to let dark forces tear us apart from within, to remind ourselves that we love one another, love our country, and that only together will we prevail. GOLD (voice-over): Now appointed caretaker Prime Minister, Lapid will have four months until Election Day to convince the Israeli public he should keep the job.
Hadas Gold, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Russia go f yourself again. When we come back, Ukraine claims victory on Snake Island. These defenders became famous for their foul mouthed defiance of Russian forces.
Also ahead, after months in Russian detention, American basketball star player Brittney Griner's trial begins in just a few hours. An exclusive interview with her wife when we come back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you trust that the maximum amount of effort is being put forward to bring B.G. home?
CHERELLE GRINER, BRITTNEY WIFE: No, I don't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: NATO leaders have entered an historic summit in Madrid declaring the Alliance at a bigger, stronger, more united than ever. NATO's Secretary General says the world is a more dangerous place and that the allies must demonstrate unity. NATO has invited Finland and Sweden to join from a small military support for Ukraine and will prop up security presence in Europe in order to put more pressure on Moscow.
And in his statement, U.S. President Joe Biden offered a little -- offered little (INAUDIBLE) rather, that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia will end anytime soon. But he did emphasize Ukraine can count on NATO.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to stick with Ukraine and all of the allies are going to stick with Ukraine as long as it takes. When the war will end, I hope it ends sooner than later. But forth end, they have to be in a position where is -- the Ukrainians have all that they can reasonably expect, we can reasonably expect to get to them in order to prevent -- provide for their physical security and their defenses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:20:19]
VAUSE: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said the rigid summit was a big win for NATO and he said this during an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: It is a victory for NATO that we once again have demonstrated our unity and our ability to change, adapt when the world is changing. Now we live in a more dangerous world, and therefore we need a stronger and more -- even more united NATO. And that's exactly what this summit has delivered.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Do you believe because, you know, up until now, it's been a threat and a promise that if 1 square inch of NATO territory was challenged by Putin or anybody else, that that would be a swift reaction. Do you believe that NATO countries are much safer now than they were before this summit?
STOLTENBERG: They are safer in the more dangerous world. Because we live in a world where we see brutal use of force against a close neighbor of NATO and a close partner of NATO Ukraine, and that's reason why we have significantly stepped up and further will step up our presence in the eastern part alliance to remove any room for miscalculation or misunderstanding in Moscow, about our readiness to protect and defend all allies. This is deterrence and the purpose of deterrence is to prevent conflict. And that's exactly what NATO has done for more than 70 years, prevent conflict and preserve peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Ukraine is now facing one of the most crucial and difficult periods of this war, and the outcome will most likely be swayed by the level of Western support. The U.K. on Thursday pledged another $1.2 billion in additional military aid, including air defense systems, drones and innovative new electronic warfare equipment. And that brings total British commitments to $2.8 billion second only to the United States.
In the meantime, Russia continues to fire missiles, rockets and artillery at civilian targets with abandoned. At least 14 people were reported killed early Friday when a missile slammed into a residential building in Odesa. In the Donbas, Russia claims it's captured half the city of Lysychansk, including the local oil refinery. Ukraine disputes that, says it's still controlled some of the industrial side.
And down the coast from Odesa, Russian forces have now been driven from Snake Island after weeks of Ukrainian attacks. This tiny black sea outpost emerged as a potent symbol of Ukrainian defiance and resistance in the first days of the war when Ukrainians refuse to surrender to a Russian warship.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the significance of retaking this island.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): Snake Island is a strategic point, it significantly changes the situation in the Black Sea. It does not yet guarantee security. It does not yet ensure that the enemy will not come back. But this significantly limits the actions of the occupiers step by step who will push them back from our sea, our land and our sky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: American basketball star Brittney Griner's criminal trial is scheduled to begin in Moscow just a few hours from now. Griner was detained February and has been held in a Russian prison ever since. Details now from CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brittney, do you anything to say?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In handcuffs flanked by hurried guards in black vests, Brittney Griner is escorted into court and learns her detention has been extended by six months, and that her trial on drug smuggling charges will begin this Friday.
KURT VOLKER, FMR. U.S. SPECIAL REP. FOR UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS: The justice system, if you can call it that in Russia, has nothing to do with justice at all. It is an instrument of the Putin regime's political power. And so they have made a decision to keep her detained and they want to do this probably in order to put pressure on the Biden administration.
TODD (voice-over): The American basketball star has been detained for more than four months in Russia after being arrested at a Moscow airport. She was carrying what Russian authorities said was cannabis oil in her luggage. They accused Greiner of smuggling narcotics punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The U.S. government has classified her as wrongfully detained, meaning her case is now the focus of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for hostage affairs. CNN's Sports Analyst Christine Brennan says even if Griner's trial is a sham, it could bring a positive development.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: They have to go through this. Russians can save face, they can convict her and then they can say, OK, now what did we get in return? So as sad as that is and as strange and bizarre as it sounds, this actually means the entire situation as tragic as it is, is moving forward.
TODD (voice-over): One scenario that is always coming up in public discussions now is the possibility of the Russians treating Griner or fellow American Paul Whelan or both For Viktor Bout.
[01:25:02]
He's a notorious arms dealer known as the merchant of death now serving a long sentence at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois.
VOLKER: He's a genuine criminal. He is a notorious figure. He has supplied arms to some of the worst conflicts in the world. So there's no comparison between the two.
TODD (voice-over): Asked by CNN whether a trade for Bout is possible, Secretary of State Antony Blinken sidestepped it.
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I've got no higher priority than making sure that Americans who are being illegally detained in one way or another around the world come home and that includes Paul Whelan, that includes Brittney Griner.
TODD (voice-over): Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post writer who was held in Iran for nearly a 1.5 year believes there's a good chance that both Griner and Paul Whelan have spent significant time in solitary confinement while in Russian custody.
(on-camera): So their mental health could be suffering?
JASON REZAIAN, WASHINGTON POST OPINION WRITER: Their mental health is definitely suffering as is the mental health of all of these other Americans who are being held against their will simply because they are citizens of the United States of America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: A U.S. official tells CNN the U.S. Embassy in Moscow will send an American diplomat to Brittney Griner's hearing on Friday when her trial begins. A State Department spokesman reiterated that Griner is wrongfully detained and says the U.S. will continue to press for her release.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
VAUSE: Meantime, back in the United States, Brittney Griner's wife Cherelle told CNN she's concerned that U.S. officials are not doing everything possible to free Brittney. She spoke exclusively to CNN's Abby Phillip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: Do you trust that the maximum amount of effort is being put forward to bring B.G. home?
GRINER: No, I don't and I hate to say that because I do trust that they're -- that the persons working on this are very genuine people, that I do believe. But I don't think the maximum amount of effort is being done because again, the rhetoric and the actions don't match, you know, when you have a situation where B.G. can call our government, the Embassy 11 times and that phone call don't get answered, you don't have my address at that point until I see actions that are in B.G.'s best interest.
It would have been in her best interest for her phone calls have been answered. It would be in her best interest for her to be back on U.S. soil. So until I see things like that, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: Cherelle Griner also wants to meet with the U.S. President to help him, quote, see B.G. as we see B.G. When we come back, now that Hong Kong has lost the freedoms and liberties Beijing promised 25 years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping does a victory lap of sorts in Friday. We'll explain next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:30:12]
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back everyone. I'm John Vause. And you're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
More now on our top story. Hong Kong now marking 25 years since the return of Chinese rule. President Xi Jinping was there Friday attending the swearing in of the city's new chief executive. He left just a short time ago.
This was his first trip outside mainland China since the pandemic began and the visit to Hong Kong since the introduction of a controversial national security law which is being used to crush the city's opposition movement as well as dissent.
CNN correspondents have been covering the story all day. We now head to CNN's Will Ripley standing by in Taipei. Also Steven Jiang our Beijing bureau chief live in the capital, the Chinese capital.
But let's begin with Will Ripley. And Will, what we heard over and over again from Xi Jinping in his speech was talk of prosperity, stability, opportunity. There was not a lot of talk about freedoms and democracy -- that kind of stuff.
So from Xi Jinping's point of view, what looks like a success in Hong Kong? How does he define it?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, look at how he defines success in Xinjiang where the Uyghur Muslims have jobs and have been trained to like, you know, integrate into Chinese society and yet their culture and their entire, you know, what makes them, them has essentially been forcefully, at least, attempted erased from them.
In some ways, obviously it is a totally different situation, but in Hong Kong you had this kind of magical and unique place where there is this vibrant, you know, feeling of, you know, moving towards democracy and people are out protesting. And it is the only place other than here in Taipei where they can mark the Tiananmen Square anniversary with a vigil.
And you had museums talking about things that you couldn't talk about in the mainland and books being sold in Hong Kong that you couldn't buy in the mainland.
And all of that is now -- has been essentially already been erased. And if it's not fully, it is on the way. They took down the Tiananmen statues from universities. They closed the book stores. They are changing the educational curriculum, essentially reeducating the people of Hong Kong, the young people starting them young, teaching them about national security.
So they are rewriting even Hong Kong's own story. And there will be a generation, you know, after this current generation that will grow up and will never know what it was like in Hong Kong before.
Just like there are generations that grew up and didn't know anything differently in other places where China has essentially tried to make everything stable and harmonious, and in sync with what Xi Jinping and his leaders believe is the right way, and the only way to live.
If you exist within that circle of society, you can have a great time, and you can be very happy. But if you veer outside of that accepted circle, then you are basically not part of the society until you conform.
And that is what is going to happen in Hong Kong. And those who go along with it and embrace it, as a Xi Jinping said, you can have an exciting life. Work hard, you're going to be successful. those who don't -- those who continue to push back are going to have a very tough time.
VAUSE: Go along to get along.
RIPLEY: And we have seen what happens to activists in the mainland.
VAUSE: Yes. Stay with us, Will. Let's go to steven in Beijing -- our Beijing bureau chief. You know, one country two systems was always kind of an uneasy relationship from the get-go.
You know, having this capitalistic freedom loving, basic island right next to you know, 1.4 billion Chinese people who have no rights, no freedom, under communistic dictatorship.
But it kind of worked for a while. And it seemed to be, you know, finding its way. There's been some sort of footage of a different (INAUDIBLE) you know, in Beijing.
But it was only really when Xi Jinping took office, took power, that Hong Kong really started to feel, you know, the iron grip coming from Beijing. Xi Jinping really clamping down on those freedoms. So why the shift? What changed?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well John, as he made clear in his speech that his supreme philosophy for this very unique formula is Chinese security and sovereignty trumps everything else.
So everything else -- the freedoms, the civil liberties, the high degree of economy being promised in that formula is secondary in the name of Chinese sovereignty and security. And that is the big caveat. You know, he repeated that very increasing heard expression that only patriots are allowed to govern Hong Kong.
And that of course, is a code word as only people who are pro Beijing and loyal to the Communist Party and themselves were allowed into leadership positions in the city.
All of this is really not surprising though, because his governing ideology if you will has always been about reasserting the party's absolute control over every aspect of society, and over every corner of Chinese territory. And that has now very much extended to Hong Kong.
[01:35:00]
JIANG: And in his eye -- in the eyes of state media not to mention millions of Chinese who have indeed partying to that brand of patriotism and nationalism, they consider this a positive change in Hong Kong because the wiping out of all of these pesky opposition, and the so-called hostile and subversive forces really brought back stability and prosperity to the territory.
That is why you are increasingly hearing this term of the second return of Hong Kong, meaning back in 1997 China has regained sovereignty, but not the power to govern. Only with the iron fist of Xi Jinping, now the city has finally become a truly Chinese city.
And that of course, is considered a very good development. That's why even though he did it overnight in Hong Kong, he has a left only after two very brief visits, he would very much feel at home in the city, increasingly in lockstep with Beijing politically, economically, ideologically, not to mention in terms of COVID and security rules.
And that is also very much what he needs as we head into this very important Communist Congress later this year when he (INAUDIBLE) to assume a precedent-breaking third term as China's top leader and potentially paving the way for him to rule for life, John.
VAUSE: Yes, in charge of the party, the military and the judiciary as well, I mean it is incredible -- he can have that much that.
But Will, to you, clearly what is going on here is that Beijing made a deal with Britain. Beijing made a deal with the people of Hong Kong and people of the world that those liberties and freedoms would stay in place for 50 years. Clearly they are not. So how do they rationalize that part of the equation?
RIPLEY: Things change, you know, the situation changed. The protesters pushed Beijing too far. They poked. They poked too much. That is kind of like one of the members of the protest movement who's now living in exile here in Taiwan told me that's like kind of like blaming a rape victim for the sexual assault, that you asked for it.
But that is the view that the protesters are the ones who are to blame because they went too far. And they pushed Beijing too much and therefore once the anvil swings, well that is it.
You know, that how we're describing it. Yes, this is -- even for Beijing folks, this is a tragedy for Hong Kong. But once that anvil swings, then that is it.
So you know, So here we are, the irony of it is that one country two systems was intended to be an example for the people here in Taiwan, of the wonderful things that would happen if they come more in line with the mainland.
I mean this is supposed to be kind of just a sneak preview for Taiwan, you know, to finally in the words of the communist rulers in Beijing, to reunify with the motherland. Of course, people here don't necessarily all consider that their motherland, or at least not the government there even though they share a cultural heritage.
And so the irony of this is that what has happened in Hong Kong basically helped Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-Wen win by a second term by a landslide. And her policies and her supporters are continuing, you know, there's more public, you know, support of moving towards kind of like you know, more independence without saying independence for Taiwan. Then you've heard about and talked about in decades. In essence direct result of what people here saw in Hong Kong and what scared a lot of people brought them out to the polls and they don't want that here. A lot of them do.
Some of them do. It is divided, it is a democracy, it is divided. There are people that support it, but there's a lot of young people that don't want their future to be like the future of the young people in Hong Kong.
VAUSE: You know, the whole question of independence in Taiwan is not going to go away anytime soon. And, it is a vibrant debate, which is what you have in a democracy.
Will, thank you -- Will Ripley live for us there in Taipei. And also Steven Jiang, our Beijing bureau chief. As always, thank you, sirs.
Well, the remains of a former Democratic Republic of Congo prime minister now is sent home. Patrice Lumumba was the first democratically elected prime minister in that country, but his leadership met a bitter and.
CNN's Zain Asher has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Without dignity there is no liberty. Patrice Lumumba. Now, more than six decades after his assassination, the stolen remains of the Congolese hero are home, finally receiving the dignity they deserve. Last Washington week Belgian leaders returned all that was left of the independence hero at a ceremony in Brussels. A single gold cap tooth, a biting reminder of a nations anguish.
JEAN MICHEL SAMA LUKONDE, PRESIDENT, CONGO: Beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo, an entire continent of Africa is celebrating the return of one of its worthy sons.
ASHER: The democratic Republic of Congo held three days of national mourning for the independent leader, now buried in the capital Kinshasa. Lumumba fought for the independent of the Congolese people from their Belgian colonizers, becoming the country's first democratically elected prime minister in 1960.
Three months later, he was murdered in a Belgian supported operation. This body dismembered, and dissolved in acid. Lumumba's tooth became another morbid trophy of colonialism, when a Belgian police officer brought it home as loot.
Belgian's prime minister expressed his nation's shame.
ALEXANDER DE CROO, BELGIAN PRIME MINISTER: Since we're crazy, I would like to reiterate here in the presence of his family. The apology of the Belgian government for the way it influenced the decision to end the life of the country's first minister.
ASHER: But for many Congolese, an overwhelming complex of emotions.
YVONNE LUTLA, BRUSSELS DIMINENT: I'm feeling all kinds of emotion. I am feeling sad, I am feeling happy. It's everything.
FRANK BUNYUNGO, KINSHASA RESIDENT: What are the repercussions of Lumumba's assassination? What are the conclusions. We don't know. And Lumumba was not murdered alone. there were two more people where are their bodies? We don't know.
WEMBALONGE OMATUKU ONALUA IV, CUSTOMARY CHIEWF OF ONALUA VILLAGE: We are (INAUDIBLE) facing feeling in our heart. But after seeing the remains of (INAUDIBLE), we are reassured that our sons have indeed passed away.
That's why the mourning of our son begins today. Today, we take communions.
ASHER: The return of Lumumba's remains, just past of a larger effort to build a relationship between the two nations. One that Congo's prime minister said is the dependent upon the recognition of the path and a common effort to overcome it.
Lumumba's son agrees.
ROLAND LUMUMBA, SON OF PATRIC ELUMUMBA: People see how we can build a new era, a time where we talk with Respect. You need us. We may need you. Let's make it that way.
And those bridges between us.
ASHER: Two nations reconciling the past, with the hope for a better future. Zain Asher, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: The U.S. Supreme Court's is running a centerpiece in Trump era emigration policy to be ended by the White House.
Just ahead, why remain in Mexico is so controversial, and might just be so hard to actually really bring to an end.
Also more fallout from a former White House staffer's explosive testimony about Trump's behavior in the days leading up to January 6, by allegations now she was the target of multiple attempts, of which attempt.
[01:42:17]
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VAUSE: Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the newest U.S. Supreme Court justice on Thursday, making history as the first black woman to ever serve on the nation's highest court.
After law school she clerked with three judges, including Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer who she replaces on the bench.
She was confirmed by the senate 53 to 47, back in April but did not start the job until Thursday. That was when Breyer officially stepped down.
Before ending its current turn, the court delivered a ruling which limited the administration's power to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants.
In a clear blow to the fight against climate change and a defeat for the Biden administration's efforts to slash emissions amid growing concerns about global warming.
[01:44:50]
VAUSE: A source tells CNN the agency will still take steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in spite of the ruling. The governor of California Gavin Newsom weighed in on the decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): If you don't believe in climate change, you've got to believe your own eyes. Come to California. The extremes -- extreme weather, extreme heat, extreme drought and of course, the ravages of the wildfires.
The idea that the U.S. Supreme Court moved to take away one of the most significant and historically powerful tools to address the ravages of climate change is incomprehensible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: The Supreme Court did hand the Biden administration a win of sorts on Thursday, ruling the White House could end the remain in Mexico policy from the Trump era. But as CNN's Rafael Romo explains, ending this policy just isn't quite so simple.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The ruling means that the Biden administration does have the power to end the policy adopted during the presidency of Donald Trump, known as "remain in-Mexico".
This is the case that many saw as a test for the White House's ability to set immigration policy. The Supreme Court said five to four that immigration law gives the federal government the discretion to end the program. But this is not the end of the story.
The Biden administration now needs to go back to the lower courts so that there is a final determination as to how this program is terminated. This means that it is going to take some time before remain-in-Mexico ends as we know it.
Under the unprecedented program launched in 2019, the Department of Homeland Security sent certain on Mexican citizens who entered the United States without proper documentation back to Mexico instead of detaining them or releasing them into the U.S. while their immigration proceedings laid out.
Now what is the reality of those migrants sent to Mexico to wait resolution on their cases? Well, most are living in squalor's at makeshift camps and cities on the Mexican side of the border where crime is rampant and food and water is scarce.
As we have previously reported, those conditions are similar to situations those migrants face in their countries of origin. Circumstances that led them to leave in the first place.
Critics call the remain-in-Mexico policy inhumane and say that it exposes asylum seekers with credible claims to dangerous and deplorable conditions.
There is a another policy regarding immigration that the courts must still consider. It is a public health rule known as Title 42 that allows border officials to turn back migrants detained at the border, even before they get the chance to ask for asylum which is different from how the remain in Mexico policy works.
Rafael Romo, CNN -- Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Well, let the discrediting begin and maybe After a Little tempering as well,
Supporters of Former President Donald Trump are joining their best to undermine the bombshell. testimony from a formal White House aid by Trump's words and actions as the riot unfolded at the U.S. Capitol.
We get the very latest now from CNN's Bryan Nobbles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New information tonight about the January 6 saw a witness, Cassidy Hutchinson Sources tell CNN that Hutchinson was new of two examples that vice chair Lis Cheney used to show Trump Allies were putting pressure on former after staff members to stay loyal to the former president. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our committee commonly asks witnesses connected to Mr. Trump's administration or campaign. Whether they'd been contacted by any of their former colleagues or any else who were tempted to influence or impact their testimony.
NOBLES: Witness among a growing list of potential times. And his top advisors could be at the center off.
REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): It's a very serious issue and I would imagine the Department of Justice would be very interested in and we can take that very seriously as well.
NOBLES: But Trump and this are pushing back. Attacking Hutchinson and questioning her credibility because of la dispute over 100 aspect of her testimony.
The Secret Service arguing the details she were counted about Trump lunging at his detail in side a presidential suburban are not accurate.
The former president clearly backing the Secret Services member who are part of the story, Tony Ornato and Bobby Engel.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These are great people. They've devoted their lives too it. And I think they were very embarrassed by it because it makes them sound terrible.
NOBLES: But members of the committee saying that Ornato's story doesn't add up and they need to make it clear what he knows under oath.
STEPHANIE MURPHY, MEMBER, JANUARY 6 ELECTION: Mr. Ornato did not have as clear of memory from this period of time as I would say, you know, perhaps there's some good.
NOBLES: Congressman Adam Kinzinger taking it a step further, saying in a tweet quote, "There seems to be a major thread here. Tony Ornato, likes to lie.
Meanwhile the committee issuing a subpoena to former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, a key figure members believe has a lot to share.
REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D): There are quite a few things that he could tell, the committee that would not be subject (INAUDIBLE). And I think it's important.
[01:49:55]
NOBLES: Cipollone already signaling that he maybe willing to sit for a transcribed deposition. As for others who are fighting subpoenas, frustration is mounting from the lack of action from the Department of Justice.
REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): Mark Meadows and Dan Scavino have refused to come and talk to congress. We have the power of subpoenas similar to what a court has and the Justice Department has failed to indict them for that. And so all it does is send a message, you just have to resist the select committee and you may be able to resist all penalties. That's been a frustration.
NOBLES: And Wednesday night the Reagan Library in California, Cheney using the work of the committee to make a case that it is time for the party to move past Trump.
CHENEY: To the little girls and to the young women who are watching tonight, these days for the most part, men are running the world and it is really not going that well.
NOBLES: And we are learning a little bit more about the testimony that Tony Ornato, the former White House deputy chief of staff, has already given to the January 6th select committee. Sources say that they met on two different occasions, once in January, another time in March, that he was asked questions about what the former president knew about the vice president's whereabouts on January 6th. And whether or not he could've done anything more to calm the protesters that were riding to the Capitol on that day.
Ryan Nobles, CNN, on Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: As Ryan just mentioned, vice chair Liz Cheney has been pleading to Republicans to disallow Trump as he faces an uphill reelection battle. Here's part of a speech she delivered at the Reagan Library in California.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: The reality that we face today as Republicans, as we think about the choice in front of us, we have to see because Republicans cannot both be loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the Constitution.
At this moment --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Well Beijing may have taken away Hong Kong's freedoms and liberties, but hey, look at the cool rare artifacts on lone from the Forbidden City.
All this and the political deals that brought them to the city in the first place, after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Closing bell on Wall Street Thursday marking the end of a turbulent second quarter for all three major indices. The Dow which fell 253 points in trading ended its worst three month period since 2020.
Similar story for the S&P 500, also posting its worst first half of the year since 1970. That was when Nixon was president. As for the Nasdaq, it ended its worst quarter since 2008. Remember the 2008 financial crisis.
Hours after Wall Street's close, we are watching trading underway across Asia. And look at that. Red everywhere. Ok.
Hong Kong is set to open its new palace museum, a gift from the central government in Beijing. The $450 million project will showcase hundreds of artifacts. And while some relics are considered national treasures, others came at a price.
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The palace museum stands at the heart of Beijing. And it is expanding into Hong Kong with a building designed to house hundreds of its priceless treasures.
[01:54:52]
STOUT: The new seven story $450 million Hong Kong palace museum is dedicated to Chinese art and culture. It's July opening coincides with the 25th anniversary of the city's handover from British rule to China.
BERNARD CHAN, CHAIRMAN, HONG KONG PALACE MUSEUM: It is so important for our museum to be able to tell the story. Where does Chinese civilization come from, and how is Chinese civilization connected with other civilizations because we are not alone, right, so I think that is important.
Especially at a time when the world is so polarized and divided.
STOUT: More than 900 artifacts are on loan from Beijing's Palace Museum, exhibited across multiple galleries. In this one, the spotlight is on the history of Chinese ceramics, with a focus on imperial porcelain from the Ming and Qi dynasties.
DAISY WANG YIYOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HONG KONG PALACE MUSEUM: The palace museum has 1.8 million objects, right. Out of that only 8,000 were designated as grade one objects. Out of 8,000 they gave us 166. 5 percent, which is a big deal.
You have to see it, because only with your own eye you can really appreciate the exquisite nature of Chinese art.
STOUT: Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted the glories of China's past as part of his vision for achieving the Chinese dream. In 2017, Xi visited Hong Kong to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover. And oversaw the signing ceremony between Beijing and Hong Kong to develop the museum. At the time, he said he hoped it would promote traditional Chinese culture.
As the presidents push for cultural soft power is being realized in the city, freedom of expression has been curtailed, thanks to a national security law passed in 2020. Scenes of mass protests are no more, and politically-charged artworks like the Pillar of Shame in Tiananmen Square Memorial have been removed. The Hong Kong outpost will be the third palace museum in the world, many of the Forbidden City's other treasures are also on display at the palace museum in Taiwan. After some of China's most prized relics were taken to Taipei by retreating national forces in the 1940s.
CHAN: We have these experts from Beijing, China, as well as Taiwan working together with us in our museum. So I can only imagine that dialogue will continue. I hope that one day there could be an actual collaboration between the three museums.
STOUT: Three museums, housing China's priceless national treasures, but only to have the blessing of Beijing, including here where the capitals influences already felt.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Thank you for watching. I'm John Vause.
CNN NEWSROOM continues with my colleague and friend Kim Brunhuber in just a moment. Have a good weekend. I'll see you back in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for watching.
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