HONG KONG Tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents marched through the streets in defense of their cherished freedoms Saturday, in the face of what many see as a growing threat from mainland China, exactly two decades after the handover from British rule.

Earlier in the day, Chinas president, Xi Jinping, marked the 20th anniversary of the handover with his sternest warning yet to the territorys people: You can have autonomy, but dont do anything that challenges the authority of the central government or undermines national sovereignty.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover, China promised to grant Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years, but Xi said it was important to have a correct understanding of the relationship between one country and two systems.

One country is like the roots of a tree, he told Hong Kongs elite after swearing in a new chief executive to govern the territory, Carrie Lam. For a tree to grow and flourish, its roots must run deep and strong. The concept of one country, two systems was advanced first and foremost to realize and uphold national sovereignty.

Many people in Hong Kong accused China of violating the territorys autonomy in 2015 by seizing five publishers who were putting out gossipy books about the Chinese leadership and allegedly distributing them on the mainland.

Some are also angry that Beijing intervened to disqualify newly elected pro-independence lawmakers who failed to correctly administer the oath of office last year. Many people are worried about a steady erosion of press freedom, and that in a range of areas China is increasingly determined to call the shots.

But Xi made it clear that challenges to Beijings authority would not be allowed.

Any attempt to endanger Chinas sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government and the authority of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or use Hong Kong for infiltration or sabotage activities against the mainland, is an act that crosses the red line and is absolutely impermissible, he said.

But that message didnt appear to go down well on the streets of Hong Kong. Organizers said more than 60,000 people joined Saturdays annual march, which they said was meant to deliver a message to the Chinese president.

Hes threatening Hong Kongs people, saying he has the power to make us do what he wants, said Anson Woo, a 19-year-old student.But I still have hope. Seeing all the people around me today, the people of Hong Kong are still fighting for what we value.

A poll by the Chinese University of Hong Kong showed people here attach even greater importance to judicial independence and freedom of the press than to economic development. Any notion that Hong Kong as a city is only about making money is clearly not accurate.

We have to take the chance to express our views while we still can, said Chan Sui Yan, a 15-year-old schoolgirl.They say it is one country, two systems, but right now we are losing a lot of the rights we value.

Some chanted slogans demanding democracy, criticizing the territorys ruling elite or the Communist Party. many called for the release of Nobel laureate and democracy icon Liu Xiabo, imprisoned in China since 2008 and this week taken to a hospital under close guard for treatment for advanced liver cancer.

We want to show the mainland there are other voices, outside the official voice, said teacher Tong Siu, 53.We want to safeguard the core values of Hong Kong.

In his speech, Chinas leader said that the concept of one country, two systems was a great success, and should be implemented unswervingly and not be bent or distorted.

While his words made it clear that sovereignty took precedence over autonomy, he said neither aspect should be neglected. Only in this way will the ship of one country, two systems break the waves, sail steadily and last the distance, he said.

Yet many people here say Hong Kongs autonomy was again badly distorted in March, with Lams election as chief executive. Although the former bureaucrat trailed well behind rival candidate John Tsang in opinion polls, she was chosen by a panel of 1,200 members of the territorys elite that was packed with pro-Beijing loyalists.

Although Tsang was also an establishment figure, political experts say Beijing seemed to want someonein the chief executives chairwho would not challenge its authority.

Xi did not shy away from raising two controversial demands that have previously brought Hong Kong residents out on the streets inthe hundreds of thousands.

Chinas leader said the territory needed to improve its systems to defend national security, sovereignty and development interests, as well as enhance education and raise public awareness of the history and culture of the Chinese nation.

Chinas demand that the territory pass a national security law caused massive street protests14 years ago, while plans to implement a program of patriotic education brought more people onto the streets in 2012 and helped politicize the territorys youths.

Both plans were subsequently shelved, but Lam hasindicated she aims to put themback on the table. But she also argues the time isnt right to satisfy a popular demand for greater democracy by allowing a future chief executive to be chosen by universal suffrage.

Marchers said moves to interfere with the education system smacked of brainwashing.

Martin Lee, Hong Kongs veteran pro-democracy political leader, said China was deliberately confusing patriotism with obedience.

When they say you must love the country, what they mean is you must obey the Communist Party, he said. We have no problem with the Communist Party as long as it adheres to the promises made to us.

But Lee said China had not fulfilled its promise to grant Hong Kong greater democracy.

They kept on postponing democracy, he said. Thats why young people are losing their patience.

On Saturday morning, a small group of pro-democracy protesters said they were attacked by hired thugs when they tried to stage a demonstration, and subsequently were briefly detained and beaten by police.

Joshua Wong, who led protests against patriotic education in 2012 and in favor ofdemocracy in 2014, was among the group andcalled the incidentanother violation of the promise to maintain Hong Kongs values, including the right to free speech. One country, two systems has given way to one country, one-and-a-half systems, he told The Washington Post.

Why would Hong Kong people want to accept patriotic education from a country that isruled by a single party dictatorship? he said. This is the core question. If the government is not elected by the people, how can we have a sense of belonging?

Luna Lin contributed to this report.

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Hong Kong residents march to defend freedom as China's president draws a 'red line' - Washington Post