The transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China (PRC) occurred on June 30, 1997. Economic History of Hong Kong From Queen Victoria to the Second World War Treaty of Nanking Kowloon Treaty Cession of the New Territories Shiping, Banking, Industry Sino-Japanese War Hong Kong After the War Chinas Civil War Communist Victory, HKs Isolation Benefits to the Mainland of HKs... Seven years after the first flight of a heavier-than-air controlled aeroplane in 1903, planes were already flying in Hong Kong. ... Collection of KMB bus models, from past to present. ... Hong Kong used to produce stamps with the name Hong Kong, with the face of the Kings or Queens of the United Kingdom. ... As of March 26, 2004, there are 79 declared monuments in Hong Kong. ... The history of China is detailed by historical records dating as far back as 16th century BC. China is one of the worlds oldest continuous civilizations. ... This article or section needs to be updated. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1982, the two governments began to talk about the sovereignty of Hong Kong. In light of the increasing openness of the PRC government and economic reforms on the mainland, then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sought the PRC's agreement to a continued British presence in the territory. However, the PRC took a contrary position: not only did the PRC wish for the New Territories, on lease until 1997, to be placed under the PRC's jurisdiction, it also refused to recognise the "unfair and unequal treaties" under which Hong Kong Island and Kowloon had been ceded to Britain in perpetuity. Consequently, the PRC recognised only the British administration in Hong Kong, but not British sovereignty. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... The night view of the Island side as seen from the Kowloon side - the opposite side of the Victoria Harbour Hong Kong Island (Traditional Chinese: 香港島; Simplified Chinese: 香港岛; Cantonese Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 dou2; Mandarin Pinyin: Xiānggǎngdǎo) is the island where the colonial settlement of the Hong Kong territory... The Kowloon Peninsula, commonly referred to as Kowloon, is a peninsula, in the south of the mainland part of the Hong Kong territory. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ...

Background

In March 1979, the Governor of Hong Kong Murray MacLehose paid his first official visit to the PRC, taking the initiative to raise the question of Hong Kong's sovereignty with Deng Xiaoping. Without clarifying and establishing the official position of the PRC government, the arranging of real estate leases and loans agreements in Hong Kong within the next 18 years would be rather difficult. In fact, as early as the mid 1970s, Hong Kong had faced additional risks raising loans for large scale infra-structure projects such as its MTR system and a new airport. Caught unprepared, Deng asserted the necessity of Hong Kong's return to China, upon which Hong Kong would be given special status by the PRC government. This page refers to the year 1979. ... Governor of Hong Kongs Flag, 1959–1997 The Governor of Hong Kong (香港總督 / 港督) was a British official who ruled Hong Kong during the colonial period between 1841 and 1997 and was ex-officio Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral of Hong Kong. ... The Rt. ... PRC redirects here. ... Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping (Simplified Chinese: 邓小平; Traditional Chinese: 鄧小平; Pinyin: Dèng Xiǎopíng; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904–February 19, 1997) was a leader in the Communist Party of China (CPC). ... Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings. ...

Many argue that had it not been for MacLehose's rashness, the PRC government might not have pressed to put the Hong Kong question on its agenda. Debate aside, MacLehose's visit to the PRC did raise the curtain on the issue of Hong Kong's sovereignty: Britain was made very much aware of the PRC's intention - their aspiration to resume sovereignty over Hong Kong as the Qing Dynasty's successor - and began to make arrangements accordingly to ensure the sustenance of its interests within the territory, as well as initiating the creation of a withdrawal plan in case of emergency. The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: 清朝; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China and the surrounding territories, establishing the Empire of the Great Qing...

Three years later, Deng received the former British Prime Minister Edward Heath. Heath had been dispatched as the special envoy of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to establish an understanding of the PRC's view with regards to the Hong Kong question. Throughout their meeting, Deng stated clearly for the first time the PRC's willingness to settle the Hong Kong issue with Britain through formal negotiations. In the same year, Edward Youde, who succeeded MacLehose as the 26th Governor of Hong Kong, led a delegation of five Executive Councillors to London, including Chung Sze Yuen, Lydia Dunn, and Roger Lobo. Chung presented their position on the sovereignty of Hong Kong to Thatcher, encouraging her to take into consideration the interests of the native Hong Kong population in her upcoming visit to China. In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, MBE (9 July 1916 – 17 July 2005), soldier and politician, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. ... Negotiation is the process whereby interested parties resolve disputes, agree upon courses of action, bargain for individual or collective advantage, and/or attempt to craft outcomes which serve their mutual interests. ... Sir Edward Youde (尤德) GCMG, GCVO, MBE (June 19, 1924 - December 5, 1986 in Peking, China) was a British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. ... Delegation is handing a task over to a subordinate. ... The Executive Council (ExCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China is an organ in the Executive branch of the political structure of Hong Kong. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation). ... Chung Sze Yuen (Sir S.Y. Chung, GBE, GBM) (鍾士元) is a politician and industrialist in Hong Kong. ... Lydia Selina Dunn, Baroness Dunn, DBE (traditional Chinese: 鄧蓮如男爵) was the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council in Hong Kong in 1985-1992. ... Rogerio Hyndman Lobo (羅保), also Rogerio Lobo and Roger Lobo, is a businessman of Portuguese and Scottish descent and has been an active philanthropist and politician in Hong Kong. ...

The talks

This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... (Redirected from 24 March) March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... (Redirected from 29 March) March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... (Redirected from 29 October) October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 63 days remaining. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... (Redirected from 12 May) May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 92 days remaining, as the final day of September. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Zhao Ziyang (Simplified Chinese: 赵紫阳; Traditional Chinese: 趙紫陽; Pinyin: Zhào Zǐyáng; Wade-Giles: Chao Tzu-yang) (October 17, 1919–January 17, 2005) was a politician in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Humphrey Atkins (August 12, 1922 - October 4, 1996) was a British Conservative politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1979-1981 before being appointed in September 1981 as Lord Privy Seal in which he was the chief government spokesman in the House of Commons for Foreign... -1... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir John Henry Bremridge (彭勵治爵士), KBE, JP, MA (1926 - 1994) was Financial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1981 to 1986. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Redirect page ... (Redirected from 15 June) June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Before the war of words

In the wake of Governor MacLehose's visit, Britain and the PRC established initial diplomatic contact for further discussions of the Hong Kong question, paving the way for Thatcher’s first visit to the PRC in September 1982. Margaret Thatcher, engaged in discussion with Deng Xiaoping, reiterating the validity for an extension of the lease of Hong Kong territory, particularly in light of binding treaties, including the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, the Convention of Peking in 1856, and the clause signed in 1890. In response, Deng Xiaoping cited clearly the lack of room for compromise on the question of sovereignty over Hong Kong; the PRC, as the successor of Qing and the ROC, would recover the entirety of the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Nanking, August 29, 1842, Peace Treaty between the Queen of Great Britain and the Emperor of China The Treaty of Nanking (Chinese: 南京條約, NánjÄ«ng TiáoyuÄ“) is the agreement which marked the end of the First Opium War between the United Kingdom and China. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Convention of Peking (October 18, 1860), also known as the First Convention of Peking, was a treaty between the Qing Government of China and the British Empire, and between China and France, and China and Russia. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory (aka. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: 清朝; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China and the surrounding territories, establishing the Empire of the Great Qing... Motto: None Anthem: National Anthem of the ROC Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure) 1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (Guoyü) Government • President • Vice President • Premier Multiparty democracy Chen Shui-bian Annette Lu Su Tseng-chang Establishment • Xinhai Revolution Declared  October 10, 1911 Established  January...

After her visit with Deng in Beijing, Thatcher was received in Hong Kong as the first British Prime Minister to set foot on the territory while in office. At a press conference, Thatcher re-emphasised the validity of the three treaties, asserting the need for countries to respect treaties on universal terms: treaties ought always to be respected; without such respect, without such necessary trust, it was impossible for any negotiations to take place.

At the same time, on the Fifth Session of the Fifth National People’s Congress, the constitution was amended to include a new clause which stated that the country might establish a special administrative region (SAR) when necessary. The additional clause would hold tremendous significance in settling the question of Hong Kong and later Macau, putting into social consciousness the concept of "One country, two systems". The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín DàibiÇŽo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated NPC (人大, Pinyin Réndà), is the highest legislative body in the Peoples... A Special Administrative Region (SAR) (Simplified Chinese: 特别行政区; Traditional Chinese: 特別行政區; pinyin: tèbié xíngzhèngqÅ«; Cantonese IPA: /tɐk6piːt6 hɐŋ4tsɪŋ3kʰɵy1/; Jyutping: dak6bit6 hang4zing3keoi1; Yale: dahkbiht hàhngjingkeÅ«i) is a political subdivision of the Peoples Republic of China. ... One country, two systems (Simplified Chinese: 一国两制; Traditional Chinese: 一國兩制; pinyin: yì; guó liÇŽng zhì; Jyutping: jat1 gwok3 loeng5 zai3; Yale: yāt gwok leúhng jai), is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), for the unification of China. ...

After the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the Executive Councillors and the Legislative Councillors unexpectedly held an urgent meeting, requesting the British Government to give the right of abode to the people of Hong Kong. More than 10,000 Hong Kong residents rushed to Central in order to get an application form for residency in Singapore and the United Kingdom. On the eve of the deadline, over 100,000 lined up overnight for a BN(O) application form. The Unknown Rebel - This famous photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Jeff Widener, depicts a lone protester, whose actions halted the progress of a column of advancing tanks for over half an hour. ... The Executive Council (ExCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China is an organ in the Executive branch of the political structure of Hong Kong. ... The Legislative Council (abbreviated as LegCo; Chinese: 立法會, Pinyin: Lìfǎ Huì; formerly 立法局, Lìfǎ Jú) is the unicameral legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The night view of the Central as viewed from Tsim Sha Tsui on the opposite side of the Victoria Harbour Central (Chinese: 中環; Jyutping: zung1 waan4; Cantonese IPA: ; Pinyin: Zhōnghuán) is an area located in Central and Western District, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. ... The United Kingdom has arguably the worlds most complex nationality laws, because of its former status as an imperial power. ...

Negotiations began

A few months after Thatcher's visit to Beijing, the PRC government had still yet to open negotiations with the British government regarding the sovereignty of Hong Kong. Unsure of what to do, Thatcher consulted former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, though consultation proved fruitless in the end. Shortly before the initiation of sovereignty talks, Governor Youde declared his intention to represent the population of Hong Kong at the negotiations. This statement sparked a strong response from the PRC, which slammed Britain for “making a three-legged stool” and “playing public-opinion cards” as bargaining chips. At the preliminary stage of the talks, the British government refused to budge, insisting on an exchange of sovereignty for administration and the implementation of a British administration post-handover. The PRC government refused, contending that the notions of sovereignty and administration were inseparable, and although it recognised Macau as a "Chinese territory under Portuguese administration", it also sought the return of that territory. For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German-born American diplomat, Nobel laureate and statesman. ...

The conflict arising at this point of the negotiations, ended the possibility of further negotiation. During the reception of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath during his sixth visit to the PRC, Deng Xiaoping commented quite clearly on the impossibility of exchanging sovereignty for administration, declaring an ultimatum: the British government must modify or give up its position or the PRC will announce its resolution of the issue of Hong Kong sovereignty unilaterally. Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, MBE (9 July 1916 – 17 July 2005), soldier and politician, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ...

In 1983, Typhoon Ellen ravaged Hong Kong, causing great amounts of damage to both life and property. But what perplexed the people of Hong Kong most were the uncertainties of the territory's future. Hong Kong people were used to adjectives such as "useful" and "constructive" after each round of talks. The Hong Kong dollar plummeted; the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong John Bremridge publicly associated the economic uncertainty with the instability of the political climate. In response, the PRC government condemned Britain through the press for "playing the economic cards" in order to achieve their ends: to intimidate the PRC into conceding to British demands. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An adjective is a part of speech which modifies a noun, usually describing it or making its meaning more specific. ... Financial Secretary, often abbreviated as FS, is a position of the Hong Kong Government. ... Sir John Henry Bremridge (彭勵治爵士), KBE, JP, MA (1926 - 1994) was Financial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1981 to 1986. ...

British concession

Governor Youde alongside nine members of the Executive Council travelled to London to discuss with then Prime Minister Thatcher the crisis of confidence - the problem with morale among the people of Hong Kong arising from the ruination of the Sino-British talks. The session concluded with Thatcher's writing of a letter addressed to the PRC Premier Zhao Ziyang; in it, she expressed Britain’s willingness to explore arrangements optimizing the future prospects of Hong Kong while utilising the PRC’s proposals as a foundation. Furthermore, and perhaps most significantly, she expressed Britain's concession on its position of a continued British presence in the form of an administration post-handover. The Executive Council (ExCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China is an organ in the Executive branch of the political structure of Hong Kong. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation). ... Zhao Ziyang (Simplified Chinese: 赵紫阳; Traditional Chinese: 趙紫陽; Pinyin: Zhào Zǐyáng; Wade-Giles: Chao Tzu-yang) (October 17, 1919–January 17, 2005) was a politician in the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Two rounds of negotiations were held in October and November. On the sixth round of talks in November, Britain formally conceded its intentions of either maintaining a British administration in Hong Kong or seeking some form of co-administration with the PRC, and showed its sincerity in discussing PRC's proposal on the 1997 issue. Obstacles were cleared.

Jardine Matheson & Co. was one of the oldest and most influential British trading companies in Hong Kong. Simon Keswick, chairman of the company, said that they were not pulling out of Hong Kong, but only setting up a new holding company in Bermuda. He also remarked that it was not desirable to "put all one’s eggs in one basket." The PRC took this as yet another plot by Britain. The Hong Kong government explained that it had been informed about the move only a few days before the announcement. The government could not and would not stop the company from making a business decision. ...

Just as the atmosphere of the talks was becoming cordial, members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council felt impatient at the long-running secrecy over the progress of Sino-British talks on the Hong Kong issue. They held that the people of Hong Kong should have the right to know what was being discussed and to speak at the talks. A motion, tabled by a legislator Roger Lobo, and declaring, “This Council deems it essential that any proposals for the future of Hong Kong should be debated in this Council before agreement is reached”, was passed unanimously. The PRC attacked the motion furiously, referring to it as "somebody’s attempt to play the three-legged stool trick again". At length, the PRC and Britain initialled the Joint Declaration on the question of Hong Kong’s future in Beijing. Zhou Nan, the then PRC Deputy Foreign Minister and leader of the negotiation team, and Sir Richard Evans, British Ambassador to Beijing and leader of the team, signed respectively on behalf of the two governments. Rogerio Hyndman Lobo (羅保), also Rogerio Lobo and Roger Lobo, is a businessman of Portuguese and Scottish descent and has been an active philanthropist and politician in Hong Kong. ... Richard Evans is a talented musician who can play an array of instruments. ...

Migration tide

After the Tiananmen Square Democracy Movements and Massacre in 1989, many Hongkongers were pessimistic towards the future of Hong Kong and the transfer of the region's sovereignty. A tide of emigration, which was to last for no less than five years, broke out. At its peak, citizenships of such small countries as Cape Verde, Tonga, Gambia and Ecuador were also in great demand. Many consulates were deported for their corruptive behaviour in granting immigration visas. The Unknown Rebel - This famous photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Jeff Widener, depicts a lone protester, whose actions halted the progress of a column of advancing tanks for over half an hour. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Citizenship is membership in a political community (originally a city but now usually a state) and carries with it rights to political participation; a person having such membership is a citizen. ... The term Consulate can refer to: the office or the period in office of a consul a diplomatic consulate the French Consulate which governed between 1799 and 1804 a brand of menthol cigarettes Consulate This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share... World map of the Corruption Perceptions Index In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public (governmental) power for illegitimate, usually secret, private advantage. ...

Canada, Australia, and the United States were, by and large, the most popular destinations. The United Kingdom devised the British Nationality Selection Scheme, granting 50,000 families British citizenship under the British Nationality Act (Hong Kong) 1990. Vancouver was among the most popular destinations, that Richmond (a suburb of Vancouver) earned the nickname of "Little Hong Kong" and "New Chinatown", and for the city itself, HongCouver. Other popular settlements are found in Toronto, Sydney, Auckland and Singapore. All in all, from the start of the settlement of the negotiation in 1984 to 1997, nearly 1 million people have emigrated, consequently Hong Kong suffered serious loss of capital and talents. The tide lasted until 1996 when Canada and Australia faced economic downturns. The tide has turned: some of these emigrants have moved back to Hong Kong after securing their foreign citizenship. Section 1(1) of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 gave the Home Secretary the power to register as British citizens up to 50,000 persons (heads of families) recommended to him by the Governor of Hong Kong. ... This article concerns matters of British nationality law in relation to Hong Kong. ... Motto: Building a sustainable region Area: 2,878. ... This page is for the city of Richmond, British Columbia. ... Chinese New Year celebrated in a Chinatown in Paris New York City is home to three of the largest Chinatowns in North America. ... HongCouver is a somewhat derogatory term referring to Vancouver in the aftermath of the large-scale Chinese Canadian immigration of the 1980s and 1990s, particularly as a result that originating in Hong Kong. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... This is about the city of Sydney in Australia. ... The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A brain drain or human capital flight is an emigration of trained and talented individuals (human capital) for other nations or jurisdictions, due to conflict or lack of opportunity or health hazards where they are living. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Sino-British Joint Declaration

Main article: Sino-British Joint Declaration

The Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed by the Prime Ministers of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the United Kingdom (UK) governments on December 19, 1984 in Beijing. The Declaration entered into force with the exchange of instruments of ratification on May 27, 1985 and was registered by the PRC and UK governments at the United Nations on June 12, 1985. In the Joint Declaration, the PRC Government stated that it had decided to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong (including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories) with effect from July 1, 1997, and the UK Government declared that it would restore Hong Kong to the PRC with effect from July 1, 1997. In the document the PRC Government also declared its basic policies regarding Hong Kong. The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong (Chinese: 中華人民共和國政府和大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國政府關於香港問題的聯合聲明 (Traditional), 中华人民共和国和大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国关于香港问题的联合声明 (Simplified), Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó hé Dà Búlièdiàn jí Běi Àiěrlán Liánhé Wángguó guānyú Xiānggǎng Wèntí de Liánhé Sh... December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Beijing (Chinese: 北京; Pinyin: Běijīng; ; IPA: ), a city in northern China (formerly spelled in English as Peking or Peiking), is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... The night view of the Island side as seen from the Kowloon side - the opposite side of the Victoria Harbour Hong Kong Island (Traditional Chinese: 香港島; Simplified Chinese: 香港岛; Cantonese Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 dou2; Mandarin Pinyin: Xiānggǎngdǎo) is the island where the colonial settlement of the Hong Kong territory... The Kowloon Peninsula, commonly referred to as Kowloon, is a peninsula, in the south of the mainland part of the Hong Kong territory. ... A major road, Kwong Fuk Road in Tai Po, a town in the New Territories. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In accordance with the "One Country, Two Systems" principle agreed between the UK and the PRC, the socialism system of PRC would not be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and its way of life would remain unchanged for a period of 50 years. The Joint Declaration provides that these basic policies shall be stipulated in the Hong Kong Basic Law. The ceremony of the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration took place at 18:00, 19 December 1984 at the Western Main Chamber of the Great Hall of the People. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office at first proposed a list of 60-80 Hong Kong people to attend the ceremony. The number was finally extended to 101. The list included Hong Kong government officials, members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, chairmen of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong celebrities such as Li Ka-shing, Pao Yue-kong and Fok Ying-tung, and also Martin Lee Chu-ming and Szeto Wah who are now often condemned by the PRC government. Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... A Special Administrative Region (SAR) (Simplified Chinese: 特别行政区; Traditional Chinese: 特別行政區; pinyin: tèbié xíngzhèngqÅ«; Cantonese IPA: /tɐk6piːt6 hɐŋ4tsɪŋ3kʰɵy1/; Jyutping: dak6bit6 hang4zing3keoi1; Yale: dahkbiht hàhngjingkeÅ«i) is a political subdivision of the Peoples Republic of China. ... In economics, a capitalist is someone who owns capital, presumably within the economic system of capitalism. ... Cover of Index to the Basic Law The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China (中華人民共和國香港特別行政區基本法; or in short 香港基本法 or 基本法) serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong. ... December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, based in Hong Kong, is the founding member of the HSBC Group, which is traded on several stock exchanges as HSBC Holdings PLC. It was established by the Scot Thomas Sutherland to finance trade in the Far East in 1865. ... Standard Chartered Bank (LSE: STAN, HKEx: 2888) is a British bank headquartered in London with operations in many countries, especially in Asia and Africa. ... Li Ka Shing (李嘉誠 pinyin: Lǐ Jiāch ng, Jyutping: Lei5 Gaa1-sing4), is the wealthiest person in Hong Kong and East Asia. ... Henry Fok Ying Tung 霍英東, pinyin: Huò YÄ«ngdōng (born May 10, 1923 in Hong Kong. ... Martin Lee campaigning during the 2004 Legislative Council elections The Honourable Martin Lee QC SC JP (李柱銘) (born June 8, 1938 in Hong Kong with family root in Huizhou, Guangdong) is the founding chairman (1994-2002) of the Democratic Party (DP), a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. ... Szeto Wah 司徒華 (born February 28, 1931), is currently the chairman of The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China (香港市民支援愛國民主運動聯合會), was a member of the Legislative Council from 1985 to 1997 and 1998 to 2004. ...

Views of the Kowloon Walled City

Main article: Kowloon Walled City

The Walled City was originally a single fort built in the mid-1800s on the site of an earlier 17th century watch post on the Kowloon Peninsula of Hong Kong. After the ceding of Hong Kong Island to Britain in 1842 (Treaty of Nanjing), Qing (Chinese) authorities felt it necessary for them to establish a military-cum-administrative post to rule the area and to check further British influence in the area. Kowloon Walled City before its demolition. ... The Kowloon Peninsula, commonly referred to as Kowloon, is a peninsula, in the south of the mainland part of the Hong Kong territory. ... The night view of the Island side as seen from the Kowloon side - the opposite side of the Victoria Harbour Hong Kong Island (Traditional Chinese: 香港島; Simplified Chinese: 香港岛; Cantonese Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 dou2; Mandarin Pinyin: XiānggÇŽngdÇŽo) is the island where the colonial settlement of the Hong Kong territory... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Nanking, August 29, 1842, Peace Treaty between the Queen of Great Britain and the Emperor of China The Treaty of Nanking (南京條約) is the agreement which marked the end of the First Opium War between the United Kingdom and China. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qīng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing the...

The 1898 Convention which handed additional parts of Hong Kong (the New Territories) to Britain for 99 years excluded the Walled City, with a population of roughly 700. It stated that China could continue to keep troops there, so long as they did not interfere with Britain's temporary rule. Britain quickly went back on this unofficial part of the agreement, attacking Kowloon Walled City in 1899, only to find it deserted. They did nothing with it, or with the outpost, and thus put the question of Kowloon Walled City's ownership squarely up in the air. The outpost consisted of a yamen, as well as other buildings (which eventually grew into a low-lying, densely packed neighbourhood within the walls), in the era between the 1890s and the 1940s. The enclave remained part of Chinese territory despite the turbulent events of the early 20th century that saw the fall of the Qing government, the establishment of a Chinese republic and later, the People's Republic of China (PRC). 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A major road, Kwong Fuk Road in Tai Po, a town in the New Territories. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A yamen (衙門, yámén) is any local bureaucrats, or mandarins, office and residence of the Chinese Empire from the Qing Dynasty (and possibly earlier Chinese dynasties). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Motto: None Anthem: National Anthem of the ROC Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure) 1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (Guoyü) Government • President • Vice President • Premier Multiparty democracy Chen Shui-bian Annette Lu Su Tseng-chang Establishment • Xinhai Revolution Declared  October 10, 1911 Established  January...

Squatters, (whether former residents or - more likely - newcomers), began to occupy the Walled City, resisting several attempts by Britain in 1948 to drive them out. With no wall to protect it (initially), the Walled City became a haven for crooks and drug addicts, as the Hong Kong Police had no right to enter the City (and mainland China refused to take care of it). The 1949 foundation of the People's Republic of China added thousands of refugees to the population, many from Guangdong; by this time, Britain had had enough, and simply adopted a 'hands-off' policy. A murder that occurred in Kowloon Walled City in 1959 set off a small diplomatic crisis, as the two nations each tried to get the other to accept responsibility for a vast tract of land now virtually ruled by anti-Manchurian Triads (the Hong Kong organised crime syndicate). 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The Hong Kong Police Force (香港警察) (from 1969 to 1997, Royal Hong Kong Police Force (皇家香港警察) is the police force of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The highlighted area in the map is what is commonly known as mainland China. Mainland China (Simplified Chinese: 中国大陆; Traditional Chinese: 中國大陸; Pinyin: Zhōnggúo Dàlù, lit. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Guangdong (Simplified Chinese: 广东; Traditional Chinese: 廣東; Pinyin: Guǎngdōng; Wade-Giles: Kuang-tung; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangtung or Canton Province, Jyutping: gwong2 dung1), is a province on the south coast of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: 清朝; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China and the surrounding territories, establishing the Empire of the Great Qing... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Triads' rule lasted up until the mid-1970s, when a 1973-1974 series of over 3,000 police raids occurred in Kowloon Walled City. Over time, both the British and the PRC governments found this massive, anarchic city to be a bit too much - despite the low crime. If the 'Black Market' ever had a physical location, this would have been it, and the sanitary conditions were poor. After the Joint Declaration in 1984, the PRC allowed British authorities to demolish the City and resettle its inhabitants. The mutual decision to tear down the walled city was made in 1987. The government spent up to HK$ 3 billion to resettle the residents and shops. Some residents were not satisfied with the compensation, and some even obstructed the demolition in every possible way. Ultimately, everything was settled, and the Walled City became a park. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... The black market or underground market is the part of economic activity involving illegal dealings, typically the buying and selling of merchandise or services (for example sexual services in many countries) illegally. ... The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong (Chinese: 中華人民共和國政府和大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國政府關於香港問題的聯合聲明 (Traditional), 中华人民共和国和大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国关于香港问题的联合声明 (Simplified), Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó hé Dà Búlièdiàn jí Běi Àiěrlán Liánhé Wángguó guānyú Xiānggǎng Wèntí de Liánhé Sh... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hong Kong Dollar (ISO 4217: HKD) is the official currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) within the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Views of Rennie's Mill

Rennie's Mill got its name from a Canadian businessman named Alfred Herbert Rennie, who established a flour mill at Junk Bay. The business failed, and Rennie hanged himself there in 1908. The incident gave the Chinese name for the site 吊頸嶺 (Tiu Ken Leng), meaning "Hanging (neck) Ridge". The name was later changed to similar sounding 調景嶺 (Tiu King Leng) because it was inauspicious. Tiu Keng Leng (調景嶺, also Rennies Mill) is an area of Hong Kong adjacent to Tseung Kwan O (Junk Bay). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the 1950s the (British) Hong Kong government settled a considerable number of refugees from China - former Nationalist soldiers and other Kuomintang supporters - at Rennie's Mill, following the Chinese civil war. For many years the area was a Kuomintang enclave known as "Little Taiwan", with the flag of the Republic of China flying, its own school system and practically off-limits to the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. The 1950s were the decade that spanned the years 1950 through 1959, although some sources say from 1951 through 1960. ... On July 1, 1997, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial control. ... The Chinese Nationalist Party (Traditional Chinese: 中國國民黨; Simplified Chinese: 中国国民党; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang; Tongyong Pinyin: Jhōngguó Guómíndǎng), commonly known as the Kuomintang (KMT), is a conservative political party currently active in the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. ... Combatants Chinese Nationalist Party Chinese Communist Party Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong Strength 3,600,000 circa June 1948 2,800,000 circa June 1948 The Chinese Civil War (Traditional Chinese: 國共内戰; Simplified Chinese: 国共内战; Pinyin: guógòng neìzhàn; literally Nationalist-Communist Civil War) was a conflict in... The Chinese Nationalist Party (Traditional Chinese: 中國國民黨; Simplified Chinese: 中国国民党; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang; Tongyong Pinyin: Jhōngguó Guómíndǎng), commonly known as the Kuomintang (KMT), is a conservative political party currently active in the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of the Republic of China is red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays. ... Education encompasses teaching and learning specific skills, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of knowledge, good judgement and wisdom. ... The Hong Kong Police Force (香港警察) (from 1969 to 1997, Royal Hong Kong Police Force (皇家香港警察) is the police force of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

In 1996 the Hong Kong government finally forcibly evicted Rennie's Mill's residents, ostensibly to make room for new town developments, as part of the Tseung Kwan O New Town, but widely understood to be a move to please the Communist Chinese government before Hong Kong reverted to Communist Chinese rule in 1997. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... A new town, planned community or planned city is a city, town, or community that was designed from scratch, and grew up more or less following the plan. ... Tseung Kwan O (Chinese: 將軍澳, Cantonese Jyutping: zoeng1 gwan1 ou3; Cantonese IPA: ; Mandarin Pinyin: Jiāngjūn Aò; formerly Junk Bay) is a new town in Hong Kong, mainly built on reclaimed land in the northern half of the bay after which it is named. ... The Communist Party of China (CPC) (official name) also known as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; Pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng) is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Communist Party of China (CPC) (official name) also known as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; Pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng) is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Before the eviction, Rennie's Mill could be reached by the winding, hilly and narrow Po Lam Road South. At that time, Rennie's Mill's only means of public transport were the routes 90 and 290 of KMB, which were operated by minibuses, and by water transport. This article needs cleanup. ... Volksvagen minibus A minibus is a motor vehicle that is designed to carry fewer people than a full-size bus. ...

Drafting of Basic Law

Main article: Basic Law of Hong Kong

The Basic Law was drafted by a Committee composed of members from both Hong Kong and mainland China. A Basic Law Consultative Committee formed purely by Hong Kong people was established in 1985 to canvass views in Hong Kong on the drafts. The first draft was published in April 1988, followed by a five-month public consultation exercise. The second draft was published in February 1989, and the subsequent consultation period ended in October 1989. The Basic Law was formally promulgated on 4 April 1990 by the NPC, together with the designs for the flag and emblem of the HKSAR. Some members of the Basic Law drafting committee were ousted by Beijing following the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, after voicing views supporting the students. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong. ... The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Basic Law was said to be a mini-constitution drafted with the participation of Hong Kong people. Deng Xiaoping's influence was obvious: no "three-legged stool", general elections could only be introduced step by step, and the future administrative personnel should be patriotic and love Hong Kong. The political system had been the most controversial issue in the drafting of the Basic Law. The special issue sun-group adopted the political model put forward by Louis Cha. This "main-stream" proposal was criticised for being too conservative. According to Clauses 158 and 159 of the Basic Law, powers of interpretation and amendment of the Basic Law are vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the National People's Congress, respectively. Hong Kong people have limited influence. Louis Cha, (born June 6, 1924), known to most by his penname Jinyong or Kam-yung, is one of the most influential Chinese-language novelists. ...

The Rose Garden Project

Main article: Port and Airport Development Strategy

After the June 4 incident in 1989, the Hong Kong government proposed a grand "Rose Garden Project" to restore faith and solidarity among Hong Kong residents. In the midst of Sino-British argument, workers were building the Western Harbour Crossing. As the construction of the new airport would extend well after the handover, Governor Wilson met PRC Premier Li Peng in Beijing to ease the mind of the PRC government on the one hand, and put the construction work in phases on the other. After three years of negotiations, Britain and the PRC finally reached an agreement over the construction of the new airport and signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Removing hills and reclaiming land, it took only a few years to construct the new airport. The Port and Airport Development Strategy (PADS) (港口及機場發展策略) is an infrastructure project in Hong Kong. ... The Western Harbour Crossing (abbreviation WHC; Chinese: 西區海底隧道) is an underwater tunnel in Hong Kong. ... The interior of the Hong Kong International Airport A replica of the Spirit of Sha Tin displayed at the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. ... Lĭ Péng (Simplified Chinese: 李鹏, Traditional Chinese: 李鵬, Wade-Giles: Li Peng) (b. ...

Localisation of top government officials

The last governor

Chris Patten became the last governor of Hong Kong. This was regarded as a turning point in Hong Kong's history. Unlike the predecessors, Patten was not a diplomat but a career politician and former MP. He introduced democratic reforms which pushed PRC-British relations to a standstill and affected the negotiations for a smooth handover. Lord Patten of Barnes The Right Honourable Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944) is a prominent British Conservative politician. ... This page is about negotiations; for the board game, see Diplomacy (game). ...

Patten introduced a package of electoral reforms in the Legislative Council. These reforms proposed to enlarge the electorate, thus making voting in the Legislative Council more democratic. This move posed significant changes because the Hong Kong people would have the power to make decisions regarding their future. The Legislative Council (abbreviated as LegCo; Chinese: 立法會, Pinyin: Lìfǎ Huì; formerly 立法局, Lìfǎ Jú) is the unicameral legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The transfer of sovereignty - the handover

Main article: The handover ceremony of Hong Kong in 1997

The handover ceremony was held at the new wing of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai on the night of 30th June 1997. The principal British guest was The Prince of Wales who read a farewell speech on behalf of the Queen. The newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair and the last Hong Kong governor Chris Patten also attended. Representing China were the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin; and Tung Chee-hwa, the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC).-1... The Prince of Wales The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor) (born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the head of government and so exercises many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and MP for Sedgefield. ... Lord Patten of Barnes The Right Honourable Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944) is a prominent British Conservative politician. ... The President of the Peoples Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国主席 pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Zhǔxí) is the head of state of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Jiāng Zémín (born August 17, 1926) was the core of the third generation of Communist Party of China leaders, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the Peoples Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and... Tung Chee-hwa (Traditional Chinese: 董建華 Simplified Chinese: 董建华 Pinyin: Dǒng Jiànhuá) (born July 7, 1937, or the 29th day of the fifth month in the Chinese calendar) is the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

Bibliography

Chris Patten (1999). East and West. . ISBN 0771069812. Pb'k. ISBN 0330373080

Further reading

See also

• Transfer of the sovereignty of Macau
• History of Chinese immigration to Canada

This is the history of Chinese immigration to Canada. ...

External links