Did the UK have to return Hong Kong to China?
The Hong Kong handover, domestically known as the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, was the formal passing of authority over the territory of the then colony of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China at midnight on 1 July 1997.
When did UK give Hong Kong back?
1997
The U.K. government said China is in a “state of ongoing non-compliance” with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a treaty signed by the two countries that guarantees Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms after the city was handed back to Beijing in 1997.
How did Hong Kong belong to UK?
The Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong to the British Empire in 1842 through the treaty of Nanjing, ending the First Opium War. Hong Kong then became a British crown colony. Hong Kong greatly increased its population from refugees from Mainland China, particularly during the Korea War and the Great Leap Forward.
When did Britain leave Hong Kong?
At midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was peaceably handed over to China in a ceremony attended by numerous international dignitaries, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Should Hong Kong be independent from China?
Eventual re-unification is the final goal, just as in the case of China and Taiwan (that is a long discussion for another day). Hong Kong independence would be counterproductive to social progress in both Hong Kong and China, as increased exposure to Hong Kong will only allow for increased diffusion of Western values to the ‘mainland’.
Why did the British come to Hong Kong?
When Britain first arrived in Hong Kong it was riding on the crest of the imperial wave. Its gun boats were out in the South China Sea and the government in London was being egged on by both the opium traders and other merchants to force China into opening the door to commerce.
What is the history of Hong Kong’s independence?
In 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration agreed the handover on 1 July 1997 under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle*. This meant Hong Kong would enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” for 50 years. Beijing however still had the final say as stated in Hong Kong’s constitution and Basic Law.
What is the significance of the handover of Hong Kong?
Handover of Hong Kong, domestically known as the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, was the formal passing of authority over the territory of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the former colony.