On this day: On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was handed over to China peacefully. Prior to this, Hong Kong was occupied by Britain for 100 years.
Hong Kong City (File Photo)
Beijing is criticized all over the world for the steps taken by China in Hong Kong. But you know that earlier Hong Kong was under the control of Britain and on this day it was handed over to China. In fact, on 19 December 1984, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang signed an agreement, under which Hong Kong was to be handed over to China in 1997. In return, China will not implement its policies there and there will be a capitalist system in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was leased by China to Great Britain in 1898 for 99 years. At the same time, on July 1, 1997, under the agreement of Margaret Thatcher and Zhao Jiang, Britain again handed over Hong Kong to China. During this an event was organized, in which the then British PM Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the then US Defense Minister Madeleine Albright participated. However, a few thousand people living in Hong Kong also opposed the handing over of the city to China.
Britain occupied Hong Kong during the Opium War
During the First Opium War in 1839, Britain infiltrated China and crushed opposition to its interference in the country’s economic, social and political affairs. Britain occupied Hong Kong with a very small population during this period. In 1841, China ceded the island to the British with the signing of the Convention of Chunap, and in 1842 the Treaty of Nanking was signed. Thus ended the First Opium War. At the same time, during the Second Afig War (1856–1860), China was forced to cede the Kowloon Peninsula adjacent to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong given on lease for 100 years in 1898
Britain’s new colony emerged as an east-west trade center. At the same time it developed as a commercial gateway and distribution center for southern China. On 1 July 1898, Hong Kong was leased to Britain for 100 years under the Second Convention of Peking. Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese from 1941 to 1944 during World War II, but remained in British hands during the various Chinese political upheavals of the 20th century.
Hong Kong handed over to China peacefully in 1997
On 19 December 1984, after years of negotiations, British and Chinese leaders signed an agreement to hand over Hong Kong to China in 1997 in exchange for the one country, two systems policy by the Communist government of China. British PM Thatcher described this agreement as a milestone in the history of Hong Kong’s life, Anglo-Chinese relations and international diplomacy. After this, on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was handed over to China peacefully. During this time, in contrast to the Communist ideology of China, the capitalist ideology was retained in Hong Kong.
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