Hong Kong enters ‘new era’ as city returns to Chinese rule in 1997 – SCMP archive

This article was first published on July 1, 1997 Tung and his team sworn in as Patten bids tearful farewell by Chris Yeung Hong Kong entered its new era at the stroke of midnight, launching a historic experiment with the strongest pledge yet of non-interference from President Jiang Zemin. As June 30 moved into July 1, the flags of Britain and Hong Kong were lowered, and those of China and the SAR raised in the Convention and Exhibition Centre. The return to China after 156 years of colonial rule came at the end of a day packed with emotion. It was followed by swearing-in ceremonies for the Chief Executive, senior officials, the Judiciary and the provisional legislature during the early hours. President Jiang, the first head of state of China to visit Hong Kong, flew in during the afternoon, shortly after Governor Chris Patten bade farewell to Government House. In a statement which appears on the front of our second section today, the President stresses that central government departments “will not and should not be allowed to intervene in matters that ought to be handled by the Hong Kong SAR as called for by the Basic Law. This must be achieved and it will be achieved”. Noting that the Basic Law protects “in full” rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, of the press, of association, assembly and procession, he adds: ‘‘Nobody and no organisation is allowed to engage in activities contrary to the Basic Law and detrimental to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and to national security.” In his handover speech, Mr Jiang said the SAR would gradually develop a democratic system that suited Hong Kong reality. “I am confident ... Hong Kong compatriots will be able to manage Hong Kong well,” he said. If July 1 was a day for celebration for China and the new administration, the preceding hours were a time of deep emotion for the outgoing power. The Governor could hardly contain his tears as The Last Post sounded and he was presented with the flag from Government House minutes before leaving his home of the past five years for the final time. In his farewell speech during the British sunset ceremony at Tamar, Mr Patten hailed the success of Hong Kong as a “Chinese city with British characteristics”. Britain’s contribution was to have provided the “scaffolding that enabled the people of Hong Kong to ascend”. But as the music swelled, the moment finally become too much for the Governor, his tears falling amid the rain. While the British were saying their farewells, the first contingent of 509 PLA troops crossed the line in the centre of the Huanggang bridge at 9pm. The main body of 4,000 soldiers, many travelling in armoured cars, was due to come into Hong Kong at 6am. Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng and Vice-Premier Qian Qichen accompanied President Jiang at the handover ceremony while the British delegation was headed by the Prince of Wales, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. Mr Blair and Mr Cook, together with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, later boycotted the swearing-in ceremony in protest against the setting up of the provisional legislature, but their countries were represented by their Consuls-General. Pledging to lead the 6.5 million people towards the future in a brief inauguration speech, Mr Tung said: “For the first time in history, we, the people of Hong Kong, will be master of our own destiny. “We will exercise our powers prudently and responsibly.” The 60 provisional legislators convened at 2.45pm to vote through the Reunification Bill which will give legal effect to 13 bills it passed in Shenzhen in advance of the handover. Outside the Legislative Council chamber, Democrats staged a three-hour rally with party chairman, Martin Lee Chu-ming, declared from the balcony: “We shall return.” While 100,000 people assembled at the Beijing celebrations in Tiananmen Square, in Hong Kong, it was a day of mixed emotions. Undeterred by grey skies and rain, thousands attended rallies organised by pro-democracy groups around the Legco building. They sang songs and ignited a torch of democracy to show their determination to fight for greater freedoms. But an opinion poll carried out during the day for the South China Morning Post showed that 79 per cent of respondents rated stability with less political freedom higher than more political freedom with a small risk to stability.

Hong Kong enters ‘new era’ as city returns to Chinese rule in 1997 – SCMP archive

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The handover ceremony 29 years ago marked the end of over 150 years of British colonial rule in the city

Tung and his team sworn in as Patten bids tearful farewell

The handover ceremony 29 years ago marked the end of over 150 years of British colonial rule in the city