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History: Britain Recalls Rueful Return of Hong Kong to China

June 30, 2007, is an unforgettable part oftogether with some 235 islands, were leased
history for Britain as it is the 10thto Britain for 99 years commencing July 1,
anniversary of the controversial handover of1898. Hong Kong's population expanded rapidly
Hong Kong to China. For the British it wasfrom 120,000 in 1861 to more than 300,000 by
the loss of the most valuable of her fewthe end of the 19th century. In the early
remaining vestiges of empire. For China it20th century its population expanded even
was the acquisition of a prize that gave herfaster as it became an economic and political
a bustling, thriving financial hub, a portalrefuge from China, and yet further as a
into the Western capitalist world, completeresult of people seeking refuge from the
with its own stock exchange index, the HangSino-Japanese War of 1937. After the Second
Seng. Negotiating the transfer proved to beWorld War (when Hong Kong was temporarily
one of the more painful episodes of Britain'slost by Britain to Japan), immigrant labor
withdrawal from her former colonial status.was used to establish such light industries
As the 99-year lease drew to an end, the twoas textiles and plastics. Throughout the
parties negotiated hard. The BritishWest, the labels "Made in Hong Kong" or
eventually accepted Chinese premier Deng"Empire Made" (often the same thing), became
Xiaoping's "one country, two systems"bywords for cheap and shoddy goods. Yet, as
formula, which allowed Hong Kong a highwith larger Eastern neighbors such as Japan,
degree of commercial and social autonomy andthe hardworking entrepreneurs and laborers of
guaranteed its capitalistic structure for 50Hong Kong effected an economic
years. At midnight on June 30, 1997, aftertransformation. Poor housing and oppressive
156 years of British rule, the union flag waslabor conditions improved from the end of the
lowered, folded, and handed to Chris Patten,1960s, and high-technology industries such as
governor of the tiny colony. The sadness ofelectronics developed. Relationships between
the handover was reflected in the tears ofHong Kong and China gained strength,
the governor's wife and daughters, and heand--despite the setback of a financial
fought to hold back his own emotions. Thecollapse in 1973--Hong Kong developed into a
heavy rain seemed to magnify the poignancy ofmajor financial and light industrial hub.
the occasion, as did the unhappy faces ofWhat is now mainland Hong Kong is 422 square
gathered dignitaries, including Princemiles, while Hong Kong island itself, and
Charles, British Prime Minister Tony Blair,smaller adjacent islets, are just 35 square
and two former British premiers, Margaretmiles in area. The vexing question of British
Thatcher and Edward Heath. Prince Charlesjurisdiction over the leased areas of the New
summed up the mood in a diary entry,Territories began to loom large as the lease
referring to the event as "the great Chineseapproached its 1997 expiration date. The
takeaway." Hong Kong is an ancient islandChinese-British joint declaration on the
settlement with archaeological artifactsfuture of Hong Kong was, however, agreed in
dating back to Neolithic times. When the1984. There followed further difficult
British arrived in 1821 it had very little tonegotiations between Hong Kong and China on
commend it, as it lacked good soil or eventhe details of future Chinese rule and the
fresh water. The main habitation at the timeterritory's special status. Nonetheless, the
was a small fishing village, but the islandbasic structure of law for Hong Kong was
has an excellent natural, deep and shelteredratified by its National People's Congress in
harbor with two entrances ("Hong Kong" meansApril 1990. On the day of the handover, July
"fragrant harbor"). The British realized its1, 1997, a token detachment of Chinese troops
great potential, lying as it does on a majorrolled into Hong Kong. But so far, the
trading route. Initially, Hong Kong was usedChinese have recognized the unique and mutual
primarily for the notorious opium trade, andbenefit that results from the territory's
after the First Opium War (1832-1841), thecurrent status, and the mutual benefits
Chinese ceded the island to Britain.accruing from the agreed "one country, two
Following the Second Opium War (1856-1860),systems" formula. Hong Kong continues to
the Chinese had to relinquish the Kou-lungprosper, albeit timorously, 10 years after
(Kowloon) peninsula, giving the British anthe  historic  handover.
important link to the mainland. Through the
Convention of 1898, the New Territories,More articles from this pro: F.



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