When did Hong Kong return to the motherland?

2026-03-27 10:24:45
      
  The return of Hong Kong, commonly known as the return of Hong Kong in 1997, is sometimes referred to as the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong. The Chinese mainland often refers to the return of Hong Kong to the motherland (China), which refers to the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997 (when the British lease of Hong Kong's New Territories expired for 99 years), and the British handed over the governance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. Historical events.
  In 1982, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visited China, and Comrade Deng Xiaoping held Sino-British negotiations with her on the future of Hong Kong. Comrade Deng Xiaoping proposed that the issue of regaining Hong Kong's sovereignty can be resolved by the solution of "one country, two systems". He stressed: "On the issue of sovereignty, China has no room for turning around on this issue." "It should be clearly stipulated that China will regain Hong Kong in 1997." The two sides finally agreed to resolve the Hong Kong issue through diplomatic channels. The two sides signed an agreement in 1984. In September 1982, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visited China, and China and Britain opened the curtain of negotiations on the future of Hong Kong for the first time. After the first negotiation, the two sides announced that they would discuss the solution of Hong Kong's future through diplomatic channels. The second stage of negotiations was held on July 12 and 13, 1983, in Beijing in the north. The Chinese delegation, Yao Guang, and the British delegation, Kolida, the ambassador to China. However, due to the initial meeting between the two sides, after the fourth round of talks on September 22 and 23, 1983, and the fifth round of talks on October 19 and 20, 1983, the Chinese and British announcements resumed the "useful" and "constructive" adjectives. After the seventh round of talks in December 1983, the communique said that the two sides reviewed the progress of the talks and the progress made showed that the talks had entered a new stage. In April 1984, British Foreign Secretary He Wei arrived in Hong Kong after a visit to Beijing. He issued a statement in Hong Kong, publicly announcing that the United Kingdom had relinquished its sovereignty over Hong Kong after 1997. "It is unrealistic to reach an agreement that will enable Hong Kong to continue to be governed by the United Kingdom after 1997," the statement said. During this period, members of the executive and legislative councils of Hong Kong frequently visited the United Kingdom. In February 1984, unofficial members of the Legislative Council even proposed the "Robo Motion", which caused controversy from all walks of life. In June 1984, the Sino-British negotiations entered the final stage. In July, British Foreign Secretary He Wei visited Beijing again. On August 1, He Wei arrived in Hong Kong and held a press conference, declaring that China and Britain had agreed to the outline and main terms of the agreement. On September 26, 1984, the Chinese and British sides finally initialled the "Joint Declaration" on the future of Hong Kong in Beijing.
  The ceremonial process of the return of Hong Kong
  At midnight on July 1, 1997, the national flag of the People's Republic of China and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were raised in Hong Kong. After a century of vicissitudes, Hong Kong returned to the embrace of the motherland, and the Chinese government began to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.
  From midnight on June 30 to the early morning of July 1, 1997, the new wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center was brightly lit, and the world-renowned handover ceremony of the Chinese and British governments in Hong Kong was grandly held in the fifth floor of the Great Hall here.
  The clock of history pointed to the moment of midnight on July 1, 1997, when the entire Great Hall stood in awe, and thousands of pairs of eyes looked at the bright five-star red flag and the bauhinia regional flag. This is a moment that the Chinese nation has long looked forward to, and it is a moment that will forever be recorded in the annals of world history. At 04:00, President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China solemnly announced here: In accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Hong Kong Question, the two governments held a handover ceremony as scheduled, declaring that China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China was officially established. After a century of vicissitudes, Hong Kong returned to the motherland, marking that Hong Kong compatriots have since become the true masters of the land of the motherland, Hong Kong's development has entered a new era, and it also marks the great success of Deng Xiaoping's "one country, two systems" concept.
  The handover ceremony between the Chinese and British governments in Hong Kong was held at midnight on June 30. At 23:42, the handover ceremony officially began.
  At 23:56, the flag-bearers from China and the UK entered the venue, marking the beginning of the flag-lowering and flag-raising ceremony symbolizing the transfer of power in Hong Kong between the two governments. All the Chinese and foreign guests attending the ceremony stood up. The eyes of the audience were focused on the flagpoles erected on the east and west sides of the main stage of the chairpersonship.
  At 23:59, the Union Jack and the Hong Kong flag slowly descended to the sound of the British national anthem. With the lowering of the "Union Jack" flag, a century of British colonial rule in Hong Kong came to an end.
  At midnight on July 1, the exciting sacred moment arrived: the Chinese People's Liberation Army military band played the majestic national anthem of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese national flag and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flag were slowly raised together.
  The audience was boiling, many people's eyes were filled with tears of excitement, and the thunderous applause lasted for a long time. Cameras and camera lenses kept flashing to record this solemn historical moment.
  Then, President Jiang Zemin went to the podium inlaid with the national emblem of the People's Republic of China to deliver a speech. He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China was officially established. This is a grand event for the Chinese nation and a victory for the cause of world peace and justice. July 1, 1997, will go down in history as a day worthy of eternal commemoration.
  Jiang Zemin said that history will remember Mr. Deng Xiaoping, who put forward the creative idea of "one country, two systems". It was in the direction pointed out by the great idea of "one country, two systems" that we successfully resolved the Hong Kong issue through diplomatic negotiations and finally realized the return of Hong Kong to the motherland. Jiang Zemin expressed his gratitude to all those who have contributed to the settlement of the Hong Kong issue in China and Britain, and to all those who care about and support the return of Hong Kong in the world. He extended cordial greetings and best wishes to the more than 6 million Hong Kong compatriots who have returned to the embrace of the motherland.
  After the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government will unswervingly implement the basic principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, and maintain Hong Kong's original social and economic system and way of life unchanged, and the laws remain basically unchanged.
  After the reunification of Hong Kong, the Central People's Government is responsible for the management of Hong Kong's foreign affairs and defense. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region enjoys executive management, legislative power, independent judicial power and final adjudication power in accordance with the Basic Law. Hong Kong residents enjoy various rights and freedoms in accordance with the law. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will gradually develop a democratic system suitable for the actual situation of Hong Kong.
  After the reunification, Hong Kong will continue to maintain its status as a free port, continue to play the role of an international financial, trade and shipping center, and continue to develop economic and cultural relations with other countries, regions and relevant international organizations. The legitimate economic interests of all countries and regions in Hong Kong will be protected by law. He hoped that all countries and regions in the world with investment and trade interests in Hong Kong will continue to make efforts to promote Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
  Jiang Zemin then pointed out that Hong Kong's prosperity today is ultimately created by Hong Kong compatriots and is inseparable from the development and support of the mainland of the motherland. He expressed his belief that with the strong backing of the people of the whole country, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and Hong Kong compatriots will be able to manage and build Hong Kong well, maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and create a bright future for Hong Kong.
  At 0:12 am, the handover ceremony of the Hong Kong regime ended. Members of the Chinese government delegation, including Wang Hanbin and Zhuo Lin, attended the handover ceremony and took their seats on the rostrum. There were also members of the delegation present at the handover ceremony.
  The handover ceremony was attended by representatives of more than 40 countries and regions, heads of 30 international and regional organizations and internationally renowned politicians, representatives of consular offices of more than 90 countries in Hong Kong and representatives of non-governmental organizations, regional and international organizations in Hong Kong.
  People from all walks of life in Hong Kong, compatriots from Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese and Chinese from more than 30 countries and regions also attended the handover ceremony.
  More than 9,000 journalists from more than 700 news media around the world interviewed and reported on this historic scene.
  The historical significance of the return of Hong Kong
  1. It is conducive to promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland.
  2. It is conducive to promoting the socialist modernization of our country.
  3. It is conducive to promoting the stability, development and prosperity of Hong Kong.
  4. The return of Hong Kong is a successful implementation of the great concept of one country, two systems.
  5. Give foreigners a powerful response.
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