Handover of Hong Kong

Acquisition of Hong Kong

Handover of Hong Kong was a significant historical event that took place on July 1, 1997, marking the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. This event ended 156 years of British colonial rule and began the "one country, two systems" principle, which was proposed by Deng Xiaoping, the then Paramount Leader of China.

Background

The origins of the Handover can be traced back to the First Opium War (1839-1842), after which the Treaty of Nanking was signed, ceding Hong Kong Island to the British. Subsequent conflicts and treaties, including the Second Opium War and the Convention of Peking, led to the British acquisition of Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. The New Territories were leased to the UK for 99 years from 1898, a lease that was set to expire on July 1, 1997.

In the early 1980s, with the lease expiration approaching, the British and Chinese governments began negotiations on the future of Hong Kong. The talks culminated in the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, which laid out the terms for the Handover, including the promise that Hong Kong's capitalist system and way of life would remain unchanged for 50 years after the transfer.

The Handover Ceremony

The Handover Ceremony took place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in the early hours of July 1, 1997. It was attended by British and Chinese dignitaries, including the then British Prime Minister John Major, Prince Charles, and Chinese President Jiang Zemin. The ceremony included the lowering of the British flag and the raising of the Hong Kong and Chinese flags, symbolizing the official transfer of sovereignty.

Post-Handover Developments

Following the Handover, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, operating under the principle of "one country, two systems" as outlined in the Basic Law of Hong Kong, which serves as the constitutional document of the SAR. This arrangement was designed to ensure that Hong Kong would retain its legal and economic systems for 50 years after the Handover.

However, the years following the Handover have seen growing concerns over Beijing's increasing influence in Hong Kong's affairs, leading to significant political unrest and protests, most notably the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.

Legacy

The Handover of Hong Kong remains a pivotal moment in the history of Hong Kong and China, symbolizing the end of British colonial rule in Asia and the emergence of China as a major global power. It also raised important questions about sovereignty, national identity, and the challenges of maintaining "one country, two systems" in practice.

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