when you are skating in holland, you have to skate 11 city tours. i've skated it three times, in 1985, '86 and 1997. 1997 was the last elfstedentocht. this was 1963. 10,000 skaters competed but brutal temperatures meant only 69 finished. the event attracts millions of spectators. the ice must be 15 centimetres thick across the 200 kilometre route. even if those climate conditions are met, the dutch covid guidance remains. 1.5 metres social distancing, essential travel only and a ban on mass gatherings. but professional athletes are still allowed to train and compete under certain conditions and there are calls for elfstedentocht to go ahead with competitors only in a natural ice bubble. this year is even more special because of the covid, of course. we can't go on holidays as much

as we do, we can't go out. it is a perfect thing right now. why is that? nobody wants to get the blame if something goes wrong. but even this is already unique, just to dream about it is even fun. the discussion has turned into a culture war this year, as the anti—lockdown populace argue elfstedentocht should be allowed, while the health and skating experts have advised it's impossible without the risk of breaking the covid rules. what began as a means of transportation, utilising the extensive waterways to keep the country moving during winter, today offers a rare opportunity to get out and indulge in something they love — together. why are we so passionate? it's part of who we are. we grew up with it. from the time we can walk, we are on the ice if it's there.

here, in schipluiden, they couldn't wait to get their skates on. and scenes like these are replicated right across the netherlands, generations of skaters making the most of what they've got before it's gone. anna holligan, bbc news, schipluiden. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello there. 0ur weather is going to turn increasingly mild over the next 2a hours, but as it does so, we've got some rain and some strong winds to come from this area of low pressure. this hook of cloud just going past northern ireland will bring some particularly strong winds, i think, to the hebrides in western scotland, where gusts of wind will probably reach about 75 mph, so there is the risk of some disruption here from the strong winds. outbreaks of rain and fairly windy conditions, though, with us for most areas of the uk as we go into this evening, and indeed overnight, those winds will very slowly ease down. there will be further showers later

in the night for northern ireland and western scotland. and it's going to be a mild night — i've not said that for many weeks — 4—10 celsius, something like that. monday starts off on a rather damp note across east anglia and south—east england, with some rain slow to clear away. showers follow to northern ireland, north of both england and wales, and across scotland. there will probably be quite a bit of cloud around, maybe a few mist and hill fog patches, but it will be mild. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: with15 million now vaccinated — the government say they've hit their first covid vaccination target a day early. it has been a truly national uk—wide effort. we have done it together. and i want to thank each and every person who has helped make it happen. you can be incredibly proud of the part you have played.

the prime minister is under pressure from some of his own mps to end covid restrictions by the end of april. government ministers however urge caution. president trump suggests he could make a political comeback after he's cleared of his second impeachment trial. an extension to the ban on evictions in england — the government says it will ensure tenants won't be forced out of their homes by the pandemic. now on bbc news: after months of increasingly violent protests in hong kong, beijing imposed a sweeping national security law. many activists now face an agonising choice — to stay, or to go. we investigate, in the exiles: hong kong at a crossroads.

at the age of 25, h is leaving home for the first time going overseas alone, fleeing hong kong.

after months of increasingly violent protests, beijing imposed a sweeping

national security law injune 2020 vowing to bring back stability to hong kong. under the law, the maximum punishment for offences like secession and subversion is life imprisonment. the next day britain, the colonial ruler of hong kong for over 150 years, responded. if china continue down this path, we would introduce a new route for those with british national overseas status to enter the uk, granting them limited leave to remain with the ability to live and work in the uk. a move met with angerfrom beijing. an estimated nearly 5.5 million hong kongers, including h and ah ching, now have the right to move to the uk.

the latest trigger in a long—running battle over greater autonomy from mainland china was a move to introduce an extradition bill that could see people accused of certain serious offences be tried on the mainland. it turned into a larger more confrontational movement against china's growing influence.

h joined a group on the encrypted app telegram, created by a 30—year—old man we're calling ah ching. they call each other sau zuks, which can be loosely translated as "comrades".

when britain handed back hong kong to china in 1997, it was agreed that the city would continue to enjoy certain rights unavailable in the rest of china. now, hong kong people are to run hong kong. that is the promise, and that is the unshakeable destiny. archive: it was then the skies | exploded with noise and colour. the last rites of imperialism finished with, the departing power staged a carnival of light. the generation who will grow to adulthood as chinese citizens looked on in wonder.

a lot of people thinking about leaving hong kong and h was one of them, and i told him, "mate, i'm here. "if you come to the uk, i can help you settle down."

i met h when we were in school — wow, it must�*ve been like ten years now. so, basically, like since like the first year we've met we have been like best friends. he is more like a sibling

to me more than friend. i do feel a bit guilty for the fact that like i wasn't there for him last year, but i'm glad that he come to the uk. so, at least, like, he won't be in danger anymore.

shouting. the national security law combined with the current affairs pandemic —— coronavirus pandemic brought the protest to a halt. but in september 2020 on the date the government postponed the hong kong parliamentary elections, a rare demonstration took place, and ah ching took to the streets again.

martin, another member of their group, went to look for him.

martin wasn't there when ah ching walked out, released on bail after being detained for more than 2a hours. police didn't press charges against him.

hello there. last week was characterised by extreme cold weather across parts of the uk. this hook of cloud just going past northern ireland will bring some particularly strong winds, i think, to the hebrides in western scotland, where gusts of wind will probably reach about 75 mph, so there is the risk of some disruption here from the strong winds. outbreaks of rain and fairly windy conditions, though, with us for most areas of the uk as we go into this evening, and indeed overnight, those winds will very slowly ease down. there will be further showers later in the night for northern ireland and western scotland.

and it's going to be a mild night — i've not said that for many weeks — 4—10 celsius, something like that. monday starts off on a rather damp note across east anglia and south—east england, with some rain slow to clear away. showers follow to northern ireland, north of both england and wales, and across scotland. there will probably be quite a bit of cloud around, maybe a few mist and hill fog patches, but it will be mild.

a this is bbc news, the headlines at six. with 15 million now vaccinated — the goverment say they've hit their first covid vaccination target a day early. it has been a truly national uk wide effort. we have done it together. the prime minister is under pressure from some of his own mps to end covid restrictions by the end of april. government ministers however urge caution... we are not going to be able to give certainty unless we are basing it on the evidence that the vaccine is doing itsjob. so far the prognosis is pretty good but we have got to keep monitoring it as the roll—out proceeds.