Hong Kong’s Return to China

After the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the Chinese government actively prepared for Hong Kong’s return. In 1990 the National People’s Congress adopted the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, setting out in law the policies of “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. In 1996 the Selection Committee for the first government of the Hong Kong SAR chose Tung Chee-hwa as its first Chief Executive. From late on 30 June to the early hours of 1 July 1997, the Chinese and British governments held a grand handover ceremony in the new wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. At midnight on 1 July the flag of the People’s Republic of China and the flag of the Hong Kong SAR rose slowly. President Jiang Zemin solemnly declared that the government of the People’s Republic of China had resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was formally established. The return washed away a century of national humiliation, ended more than 150 years of British colonial rule and marked a great victory for the “one country, two systems” concept. After the return, Hong Kong kept its capitalist system and way of life unchanged for fifty years and continued as a free port and an international financial, trade and shipping center. The central government firmly supports the SAR government in governing according to law. In 2020 the NPC Standing Committee passed the Law of the Hong Kong SAR on Safeguarding National Security, which it said safeguards Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. Macao also returned to China on 20 December 1999. Hong Kong’s return was an important milestone on the road to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.