Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Dec. 22 praised Hong Kong’s first “patriots only” legislative elections as a success amid mounting criticism by Western nations saying the poll wound back democracy in the city. Wednesday’s face-to-face meeting comes on the heels of a legislative election on Sunday. The election was swept by politicians backed by China’s ruling Communist Party (CCP) after leading figures in the pro-democracy opposition were jailed, or forced into exile. Further, only candidates determined by the CCP to be “patriots” were allowed to run. Following the election, the United States and other western countries expressed “grave concerns” over the erosion of democratic elements of Hong Kong’s electoral system and growing restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly. Beijing “fully acknowledged” the work conducted by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, Xi said on Wednesday as the pair met in Beijing, according to a statement released by Hong Kong authorities. …