BBC ON THIS DAY | 1 | 1997: Hong Kong handed over to Chinese control About This Site | Text Only 1997: Hong Kong handed over to Chinese control Hong Kong has been handed back to the Chinese authorities - ending more than 150 years of British control. The British flag was lowered over Government House - home to the last Governor Chris Patten for the past five years - at midnight last night. The flag was presented to Mr Patten who was then driven off in his official Rolls Royce, before the car was handed over to Tung Chee-hwa, the territory's Chief Executive. In his farewell speech, Mr Patten said: "The story of this great city is about the years before this night and the years of success that will surely follow it." Britain has controlled Hong Kong island since 1842 - apart from a brief period during World War II when the Japanese took over. A huge fireworks display lit up Victoria Harbour at 2000 local time. One hour later, 4,000 guests sat down to a banquet in the Convention Centre on the harbour front, while 509 Chinese troops crossed the land border into Hong Kong.

Among the guests for the final handover ceremony at the Convention Centre were Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Chris Patten. Chinese dignitaries included President Jiang Zemin, Premier Li Peng, Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and military leader General Zhang Wannian. Final farewell In Beijing the ceremony was watched on giant screens erected in Tiananmen Square. At the stroke of midnight, the red digits of the countdown clock turned to zero and the handpicked crowd roared its approval. Shortly afterwards, Prince Charles and Mr Patten boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia and waved a final farewell to the strains of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. Just half an hour after the handover, there was a demonstration by the Hong Kong Democratic Party outside the Legislative Council building - but it did not delay the inauguration of the new Special Administrative Region government. Tung Chee-hwa was sworn in as Hong Kong's new leader. "This is a momentous and historic day ... Hong Kong and China are whole again," said Mr Tung.

But he promised, "We value this empowerment and we will exercise our powers prudently and responsibly." Hong Kong returned to China - Jul 01, 1997 - HISTORY.com This Day in History: 07/01/1997 - Hong Kong Returned to China In a This Day in History video, learn that on July 1, 1997, China regained control of Hong Kong after 156 years of British rule. China gave up the island at the end of the first Opium War; at the time, it was a barren, rocky, no-man's land. But under British ownership, Hong Kong became a metropolis and the commercial gateway to the East and China wanted it back. After years of negotiation, the U.K. was willing to give back Hong Kong as long as Communist China agreed to preserve the island's Capitalist ways.

Lead Story Hong Kong returned to China Share this: Hong Kong returned to China Author Hong Kong returned to China URL Publisher A+E Networks At midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. A few thousand Hong Kongers protested the turnover, which was otherwise celebratory and peaceful. In 1839, Britain invaded China to crush opposition to its interference in the country’s economic, social, and political affairs. One of Britain’s first acts of the war was to occupy Hong Kong, a sparsely inhabited island off the coast of southeast China. In 1841, China ceded the island to the British with the signing of the Convention of Chuenpi, and in 1842 the Treaty of Nanking was signed, formally ending the First Opium War. Britain’s new colony flourished as an East-West trading center and as the commercial gateway and distribution center for southern China.

In 1898, Britain was granted an additional 99 years of rule over Hong Kong under the Second Convention of Peking. In September 1984, after years of negotiations, the British and the Chinese signed a formal agreement approving the 1997 turnover of the island in exchange for a Chinese pledge to preserve Hong Kong’s capitalist system. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was peaceably handed over to China in a ceremony attended by numerous Chinese, British, and international dignitaries. The chief executive under the new Hong Kong government, Tung Chee Hwa, formulated a policy based on the concept of “one country, two systems,” thus preserving Hong Kong’s role as a principal capitalist center in Asia. Related Videos Hong Kong standoff continues on China's National Day - CNN.com Hong Kong leader: People should be satisfied they can vote on a leader Protesters hit the streets, even amid National Day ceremonies Crowds could swell Wednesday, China's national holiday Neither government leaders or protest leaders have shown any sign of budging Are you there? Share images , but stay safe. Hong Kong (CNN) -- Wednesday is National Day, a day for all Chinese to celebrate the People's Republic of China.

Yes, dignitaries gathered and ceremonies took place to mark the holiday in Hong Kong. But the national pride mixed with profound dissent as pro-democracy protesters occupied parts of the Asian business hub -- not to celebrate the central government in Beijing, but to denounce and challenge it. LIVE BLOG: Follow CNN's coverage of the protests There was a sense, entering Wednesday, that the protest ranks could swell with more people off work for the holiday. The movement has seemingly grown regardless, unaffected by clashes with police, thunderstorms and repeated admonitions by authorities who have refused to budge. So there they were, Wednesday morning, waking up to chants over loudspeakers calling for the local chief executive's resignation, for police not to use violence against them and for everyone to "protect Hong Kong." Flag-raising protest Student pro-democracy leader Joshua Wong, who was arrested during protests Friday and released Sunday, led a group of students in a silent protest at the official National Day flag-raising ceremony in Golden Bauhinia Square. The group silently turned their backs to the flag and raised their arms in crosses as the Chinese flag and the flag of Hong Kong were raised.

Tweets from "We crossed our arms because we want to express our dissatisfaction toward the government, to reflect our mistrust towards the central Chinese government, and to object to the National People's Congress decision on August 31," he said, referring to Beijing's controversial ruling to allow only candidates approved by a nominating committee to run for office as Hong Kong's chief executive. In the build-up to the flag-raising, a statement from Wong's Scholarism group calling for calm and restraint during the ceremony was widely circulated among protesters on social media networks. "Just wear black, stay quiet with your chin down or carry an umbrella," read a message. "No matter how much you dislike a country, disturbing its flag-raising ceremony will only be disrespectful." As CNN's Ivan Watson noted from downtown Hong Kong, little seemed to have damped demonstrators' fervor. Then again, there was also no sign that authorities are ready to give in. "Both sides appear to be digging in their heels," Watson said.

Raw scenes from Hong Kong View from the ground in Hong Kong Birds-eye views of Hong Kong protests Stormy Hong Kong protests continue Hong Kong protesters not backing down When it was transferred from British to Chinese control in 1997, Hong Kong was supposed to be the centerpiece of Beijing's one nation, two systems approach. But protesters fear that independence is slipping away. They decry a recent decision allowing national government leaders to vet -- in other words, decide who is in and who is out -- any candidates up for a vote to lead Hong Kong's government. Changing that policy is demand No. 1 for the protesters, who say that having every citizen get a vote in an election is moot if the options are decided in Beijing. A growing number have also blasted Hong Kong's current leader for putting the central government ahead of his own citizens and demanded he step down. One demonstrator, Jobie Soo, explained to CNN's Watson: "(We want the government) just to respect the democracy that Hong Kong deserves and really uphold the principle of one country, two systems." The powers-that-be don't appear to be in much of a talking mood.

They have refused to budge while condemning the protests, which they say are against the law and are undermining Hong Kong's economic and security. Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, a day after saying "this illegal protest will not force the central government to go back on its decision August 31," said Wednesday that people should accept a deal as is. Speaking at a National Day reception, Leung said, "It is understandable that different people may have different ideas about a desirable reform package. But it is definitely better to have universal suffrage than not. "It is definitely better to have the (chief executive) elected by five million eligible voters than by 1,200 people. And it is definitely better to cast your vote at the polling station than to stay home and watch on television the 1,200 members of the Election Committee cast their votes." Hong Kong leader: 'This is based on the basic law' Like other chief executives, Leung wasn't elected by a popular vote but rather by a 1,200-strong committee stacked with Beijing loyalists. That was set to change in 2017. In a way, it will.

Leung points out that "we will be able to have one-person, one-vote" -- meaning citizens, not just committee members, can cast ballots. But as to which candidates they can choose from, the chief executive said that much has been settled and it won't change. "I understand this universal suffrage is somewhat different to what the public thinks it would be," he said. "But this is based on the basic law. We still want to remain peaceful, calm and think what the best is for Hong Kong." Leung has backing from pro-Beijing groups like The Silent Majority for Hong Kong , who have had their own rallies and run advertising campaigns to preach their message that pro-democracy activists will "endanger Hong Kong" and create chaos. While the city of 7 million people is still bustling in some ways, the unrest already has had an impact on one of Asia's biggest financial centers. ATM services were disrupted and 37 bank branches closed Tuesday, according to the Hong Kong Information Services Department. Leung said ambulances and fire trucks had to be rerouted to get around the crowds. Some 157 schools closed Tuesday.

Map: Where protests are Leung: China will not compromise Students: We want democracy The Hong Kong government canceled the city's annual National Day fireworks display because of the protests. Officials in the city have spoken out against the protest and -- at least on Sunday -- acted out. That's when police hurled 87 tear gas canisters into the crowd after they refused to heed calls to disperse, spurring protests. "We gave them enough of a chance to leave, and this included warnings," Assistant Police Commissioner Cheung Tak-keung said Monday, explaining the police decision. "But when they failed, we had to use force." Such forceful sentiment aren't being heard everywhere, however. Leaders in Beijing have been largely silent about what's happening in Hong Kong. At the United Nations building in New York on Tuesday, CNN's Richard Roth asked China's deputy U.N. ambassador what he thought of the protests. Wang Min replied, "What, where? Hong Kong is part of China," and then walked away. Activist: 'It's more or less like North Korea' Contrast this silence to what's happening in Hong Kong.

Even as censors blocked access to Instagram after images of protests flooded the photo-sharing app and China blocked out reporting on Hong Kong in mainland China, those on the streets managed to make their voices heard in other ways. Some took to Twitter, and a few turned to CNN iReport -- including one capturing a collective of umbrellas which, besides shielding at times torrential rain, have become symbols of the protests They are relaying the sentiments of the tens of thousands who have hit the streets. Many of them are students like lead organizer Alex Chow, who described "the current situation (as) totally out of C.Y. Leung's control." "Actually, the government is under great pressure," he continued, "and we will demand and call for more people" to protest in the coming days. Even if more people come out, some say it's not a fair fight -- not with police fully equipped and demonstrators armed with little more than their umbrellas. Grace Cheng, a 21-year-old recent college graduate, is worried authorities will come at them even harder next time. "We can't really stop them," she said. Police remove barricades and tents outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Thursday, December 11.

The main site of pro-democracy protests for the past two months was broken down piece by piece, and police dragged out the last remaining demonstrators one by one. Workers clear barricades on December 11. Protesters wanted to pressure the government to allow open elections for Hong Kong's chief executive in 2017. Authorities dismantle a barricade December 11 at the main protest site. A police officer removes a protest banner from a bridge December 11. A worker cleans the street after Hong Kong police dismantled the main protest camp December 11. Protesters attend a sit-in rally as police officers break down the campsite. Police officers take away a protester December 11. A protester is carried away by police officers on December 11. A crowd listens to a speaker at the main Hong Kong protest site in Admiralty on Tuesday, December 9. Few pro-democracy activists tents remain on the road outside Hong Kong's Government Complex on December 9. Hong Kong teenage protest leader Joshua Wong ended his hunger strike after about five days on Saturday, December 6, on the advice of his doctor.

The three co-founders of the Occupy Central movement -- from left, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, and the Rev. Chu Yiu-ming -- surrender to authorities in Hong Kong on Wednesday, December 3. Student protest leader Joshua Wong carries his belongings toward a tent at the main protest site in Hong Kong's Admiralty district on Tuesday, December 2. Wong and two other student demonstrators have begun a hunger strike to demand discussions with Hong Kong's leaders over political reform for the city. Pro-democracy protesters gather outside the Central Government Complex in Hong Kong on Monday, December 1. Police arrest a protester outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on December 1. A police officer clears umbrellas from the Lung Wo road tunnel after clashes between protesters and police on December 1. Pro-democracy protesters face police forces after clashes in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Sunday, November 30. A protester reacts after being hit by pepper spray on November 30. Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters face off with Hong Kong police on November 30. Pro-democracy protesters collide with police officers on the main road outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on November 30.

Police prepare to face protesters on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on November 30. Pro-democracy protesters push police back as they advance on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on November 30. Policemen keep vigil as pro-democracy demonstrators gather on street parallel to where a protest site was cleared in the Mongkok district of Hong Kong on Friday, November 28. Protesters cry as police officers try to stop them from blocking the road in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on Wednesday, November 26. Police clash with protesters as they try to clear a major protest site on Tuesday, November 25. A protester is carried away by police officers on November 25. Hong Kong's high court authorized police to arrest protesters who obstruct clearance of the area. Police try to arrest a protester on November 25. A demonstrator is sprayed with pepper spray by the police after refusing to leave the protest site on November 25. Protesters break a glass door of the Legislative Council on Wednesday, November 19. Protesters stand off with police officers outside the Legislative Council building after clashes on November 19.

Security staff members remove a barricade outside the CITIC tower near a protest site in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Tuesday, November 18. There were no signs of resistance from protesters, some of whom helped bailiffs, police and CITIC representatives move barricades away on November 18. The Admiralty protest site is shown on the road outside the Hong Kong Government complex on Monday, November 17. Student leaders attempted to fly to Beijing to deliver a message to the Chinese government on Saturday, November 15. They were denied boarding after being informed that their entry permits were invalid. A businessman walks to work past protester-placed barricades that blocked a road at the Admiralty protest site on Thursday, November 13. People open umbrellas at the main protest site in Hong Kong on Tuesday, October 28. The umbrella has become the defining image of the protest movement, used to shield protesters from tear gas and the elements. Riot police stand guard near a barricade in a protester-occupied area on Wednesday, October 22. Pro-democracy protesters at an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong watch a live broadcast of talks between Hong Kong government officials and protesters on Tuesday, October 21.

Police and protesters face each other across a barricade as tensions continue in Hong Kong on Monday, October 20. Riot police advance on a pro-democracy protest encampment early Sunday, October 19. A woman reads on a road barricaded by pro-democracy protesters on October 19. Police officers yell at pro-democracy protesters as they push forward in an attempt to clear a street on Saturday, October 18. Pro-democracy protesters sleep next to a barricade on October 18 after reclaiming streets in Mong Kok after a night of violent scuffles with police. A journalist collapses in agony after being hit in the face with pepper spray during clashes with police on Friday, October 17. Police use batons to hit pro-democracy protesters who are using raised umbrellas for protection on October 17. Protesters and riot police officers face off at a main road on October 17. People shout at pro-democracy protesters on October 17. Riot police clear out an encampment of protesters on October 17. Police swooped in early to dismantle the protest campsite. Demonstrators remove their belongings from a protest camp early on October 17.

Pro-democracy protesters break down as riot police clear their camp October 17. Riot police remove barricades on October 17. Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung arrives for a news conference on October 16. He said talks would resume with students as early as next week, but he said street protests had caused severe disruption and could not continue. Pro-democracy demonstrator Ken Tsang gets taken taken away by police before allegedly being beaten up in Hong Kong on October 15. Authorities have vowed to conduct an investigation into a widely circulated video that appears to show plainclothes officers kicking and punching the man. A police officer shouts at a protester who was hit with pepper spray on October 15. Pro-democracy protesters hide behind umbrellas to protect themselves from pepper spray on October 15. Protesters move barriers as others block a main road in Hong Kong with metal and plastic safety barriers on October 15. Police march toward pro-democracy protesters outside central government offices on October 15. Protesters gather near central government offices on October 15. Police move toward pro-democracy protesters during a standoff outside central government offices on October 14.

Police remove bamboo that pro-democracy protesters had set up to block off main roads on October 14. Pro-democracy protesters watch as police remove barricades on October 14. Cleaners sweep the main road after the police's removal of barricades on October 14. Police ask a protester to leave the main road of Hong Kong's Central district on October 14. Police dismantle barricades from the streets on October 14. Police officers run to barricades set up by protesters on October 14. Protesters raise their hands behind police officers after people tried to remove the metal barricades that protesters set up to block off main roads near the city's financial district on October 13. A police officer tries to stop a man from removing metal barricades set up by protesters on October 13. A police officer scuffles with a man on October 13. Police officers arrest a demonstrator on October 13. A demonstrator sets up a new barricade made of bamboo in Hong Kong on October 13. Police officers remove barricades used by protesters on October 13. Taxi drivers protest in Hong Kong on October 13, urging pro-democracy demonstrators to clear the roads.

People gather beneath the statue "Umbrella Man," by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk, which has become a symbol at the protest site, on Saturday, October 11, in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy protesters remain scattered at the protest site in Admiralty on Thursday, October 9. The government canceled talks that day after protest leaders urged supporters to keep up the occupation. Taxi drivers attend a small demonstration calling for protesters to stop blocking roads through the city on October 9. A woman drinks a soda as she walks past a barricade erected by pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong on October 9. A pro-democracy protester sleeps on a street in the occupied area surrounding the government complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday, October 8. A pro-democracy protester reads a newspaper in Hong Kong's Mong Kok district on Tuesday, October 7, as a police officer stands nearby. Protesters walk up an empty street inside the protest site near Hong Kong's government complex on October 7. Joshua Wong, a 17-year-old student protest leader, is interviewed at the protest site near government headquarters on Monday, October 6.

A man walks to work as pro-democracy demonstrators sleep on the road in the occupied areas surrounding the government complex in Hong Kong on October 6. A ray of sunlight bathes sleeping protesters as they occupy a major highway in Hong Kong on October 6. Protesters say Beijing has gone back on its pledge to allow universal suffrage in Hong Kong, which was promised "a high degree of autonomy" when it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997. People take an escalator to work as protesters sleep on October 6. The statue "Umbrella Man," by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk, stands at a pro-democracy protest site in the Admiralty district on October 6. People walk to work on a main road in the occupied areas of Hong Kong on October 6. Police officers remove barriers outside government offices in Hong Kong on Sunday, October 5. Student protesters carry a barrier to block a street leading to the protest site on October 5. Pro-democracy demonstrators occupy the streets near government headquarters on October 5. Pro-democracy demonstrators surround police October 5 in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong.

A pro-democracy protester holds on to a barrier as he and others defend a barricade from attacks by rival protest groups in the Mong Kok district on Saturday, October 4. Pro-democracy student protesters pin a man to the ground after an assault during a scuffle with local residents in Mong Kok on October 4. Pro-democracy protesters raise their arms in a sign of nonviolence as they protect a barricade from rival protest groups in the Mong Kok district on October 4. A pro-Beijing activist holds up blue ribbons for anti-Occupy Central protestors to collect as pro-government speeches are made in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong on October 4. A man sits in front of a barricade built by pro-democracy protesters on October 4 in the Kowloon district. Thousands of pro-democracy activists attend a rally on the streets near government headquarters on October 4 in Hong Kong. A group of men in masks fight with a man who tried to stop them from removing barricades from a pro-democracy protest area in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on Friday, October 3. Police raise hands against protesters as an ambulance tries to leave the compound of the chief executive office in Hong Kong on October 3.

A protester tries to negotiate with angry residents trying to remove barricades blocking streets in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay on October 3. Large crowds opposed to the pro-democracy movement gathered to clear the area. Pro-democracy demonstrators protect a barricade from "anti-Occupy" crowds in Hong Kong on October 3. A man shouts at a pro-democracy demonstrator on October 3. Police try to pry a man from a fence guarded by pro-democracy demonstrators on October 3. Pro-democracy demonstrators sleep on the street outside a government complex in Hong Kong on Thursday, October 2. As the sun rises, a protester reads during a sit-in blocking the entrance to the chief executive's office on October 2. Yellow ribbons, a symbol of the protests in Hong Kong, are tied to a fence as police and security officers stand guard at the government headquarters on October 2. Protesters confront police outside the government complex in Hong Kong on October 2. Protesters camp out in a street in Hong Kong on Wednesday, October 1.

Founder of the student pro-democracy group Scholarism, Joshua Wong, center, stands in silent protest with supporters at the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on October 1. Hong Kong's Chief Executive C.Y. Leung attends a flag raising ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of the founding of Communist China on October 1. A pro-democracy activist shouts slogans on a street near the government headquarters on Wednesday, October 1. Hong Kong police stand guard outside the flag-raising ceremony October 1. Pro-democracy demonstrators gather for a third night in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 30. Protesters sing songs and wave their cell phones in the air after a massive thunderstorm passed over the Hong Kong Government Complex on September 30. Protesters take part in a rally on a street outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on September 30. Student activists rest on a road in Hong Kong on September 30, near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered. A pro-democracy demonstrator guards a bus covered with messages of support in Hong Kong on September 30.

Protesters sleep on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex at sunrise on September 30. Protesters hold up their cell phones in a display of solidarity during a protest outside the Legislative Council headquarters in Hong Kong on Monday, September 29. Protesters put on goggles and wrap themselves in plastic on September 29 after hearing a rumor that police were coming with tear gas. Police officers stand off with protesters next to the Hong Kong police headquarters on September 29. A man helps protesters use a makeshift ladder to climb over concrete street barricades on September 29. Riot police fire tear gas on student protesters occupying streets around government buildings in Hong Kong on September 29. Police officers rest after protests on September 29. Pro-democracy protesters argue with a man, left, who opposes the occupation of Nathan Road in Hong Kong on September 29. Pro-democracy protesters sit in a road as they face off with local police on September 29. Pro-democracy protesters rest around empty buses as they block Nathan Road in Hong Kong on September 29. Multiple bus routes have been suspended or diverted. Police walk down a stairwell as demonstrators gather outside government buildings in Hong Kong on September 29.

Stacks of umbrellas are ready for protesters to use as shields against pepper spray on September 29. Protesters turn the Chinese flag upside-down on September 29 outside a commercial building near the main Occupy Central protest area in Hong Kong. Protesters occupy a main road in the Central district of Hong Kong after riot police used tear gas against them on Sunday, September 28. Demonstrators disperse as tear gas is fired during a protest on September 28. There is an "optimal amount of police officers dispersed" around the scene, a Hong Kong police representative said. Police use pepper spray and tear gas against demonstrators September 28. The protests, which have seen thousands of students in their teens and 20s take to the streets, swelled in size over the weekend. Riot police clash with protesters on September 28. Police and protesters clash during a tense standoff with thousands of student demonstrators, recently joined by the like-minded Occupy Central movement, on September 28. Benny Tai, center, founder of the Occupy Central movement, raises a fist after announcing the group would join the students during a demonstration outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on September 28.

Pro-democracy activist and former legislator Martin Lee wears goggles and a mask to protect against pepper spray on September 28. A pro-democracy activist shouts at police officers behind a fence with yellow ribbons on September 28. A sign for the Hong Kong central government offices has been crossed out with red tape by democracy activists on September 28. Pro-democracy protesters gather near government headquarters on September 29. Protesters gather during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel on September 28 as calls for Beijing to grant the city universal suffrage grow louder and more fractious. Protesters tie up barricades on September 28 during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. An injured protester is tended to after clashing with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex on Saturday, September 27. Riot police use pepper spray on pro-democracy activists who forced their way into the Hong Kong government headquarters during a demonstration on September 27. People watch from on high as pro-democracy demonstrators are surrounded by police after storming a courtyard outside Hong Kong's legislative headquarters on Friday, September 26. Students march to Government House in Hong Kong on Thursday, September 25.

Hong Kong unrest — Steven Jiang (@StevenCNN) September 30, 2014 Such fears notwithstanding, the activists weren't backing down. If anything, their demands -- including for Leung's resignation -- appear to have grown louder. "All the candidates will be pre-selected by Beijing ... It's more or less like North Korea," protest organizer Chan Kin-man said. "But we are an international city. We have a younger generation who have been taught about civil rights, political rights. And we want our words to be heard." Some analysts say they see little hope of compromise between the committed protesters and the Chinese Communist Party, which remains notorious for its ruthless suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. "I see no way the Chinese government can tolerate what is happening in HK. Greatly fear this will end badly," tweeted Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow at the U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California, who covered the Tiananmen crackdown for CNN. Chinese authorities apparently tried to restrict the flow of information into the mainland about what was happening in Hong Kong. On Tuesday, China blocked out reporting on Hong Kong in mainland China, CNN Beijing correspondent David McKenzie said.

Earlier, censors had blocked access to Instagram after images of the protests flooded the photo-sharing app. "Everybody is in completely unknown territory," said Roderic Wye, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House. "How these things end, we just don't know." CNN's Jethro Mullen reported from Hong Kong. CNN's Ashley Fantz and Greg Botelho reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Holly Yan, Pamela Boykoff, Catherine E. Shoichet, Richard Roth, Vivian Kam, Chieu Luu, Katie Hunt and Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report. Part of complete coverage on Hong Kong protests Hong Kong profile - Timeline - BBC News Hong Kong profile - Timeline Close share panel A chronology of key events: 1842 - China cedes Hong Kong island to Britain after the First Opium War. Over the decades, thousands of Chinese migrants fleeing domestic upheavals settle in the colony.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Hong Kong was already a busy port in the 1890s, when this picture was taken after the passing of a damaging typhoon 1898 - China leases the New Territories together with 235 islands to Britain for 99 years from 1 July. 1937 - With the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, Hong Kong becomes a refuge for thousands of mainland Chinese fleeing before the advancing Japanese. 1941 - Japan occupies Hong Kong. Food shortages impel many residents to flee to mainland China. The population drops from 1.6m in 1941 to 650,000 by the end of the Second World War. 1946 - Britain re-establishes civil government. Hundreds of thousands of former residents return, to be joined over next few years by refugees fleeing the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists in China. 1950s - Hong Kong enjoys economic revival based on light industries such as textiles. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Japanese forces seized Hong Kong in 1941 1960s - Social discontent and labour disputes become rife among poorly-paid workforce.

1967 - Severe riots break out, mainly instigated by followers of China's Cultural Revolution. Late 1960s - Living conditions improve and social unrest subsides. 1970s - Hong Kong is established as an "Asian Tiger" - one of the region's economic powerhouses - with a thriving economy based on high-technology industries. Countdown to handover 1982 - Britain and China begin talks on the future of Hong Kong. 1984 - Britain and China sign Joint Declaration on the conditions under which Hong Kong will revert to Chinese rule in 1997. Under the "one country, two systems" formula, Hong Kong will become part of one communist-led country but retain its capitalist economic system and partially democratic political system for 50 years after the handover. 1989 - The massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen Square leads to calls for the introduction of further democratic safeguards in Hong Kong. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Sino-British talks preceded the 1984 Joint Declaration on reversion to Chinese rule 1990 - Beijing formally ratifies Hong Kong's post-handover mini-constitution or Basic Law.

1992 April - Chris Patten becomes last British governor of Hong Kong, with a brief to oversee the colony's handover to China. 1992 October - Chris Patten announces proposals for the democratic reform of Hong Kong's institutions aimed at broadening the voting base in elections. China is outraged that it has not been consulted and threatens to tear up business contracts and overturn the reforms after it has taken control. 1992 December - Hong Kong stock market crashes. 1994 June - After nearly two years of bitter wrangling, Hong Kong's legislature introduces a stripped-down version of Chris Patten's democratic reform package. The new legislation widens the franchise but falls far short of providing for universal suffrage. 1995 - Elections held for new Legislative Council (LegCo). One country, two systems Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Governor Chris Patten receives the Union Jack flag after it is lowered for the last time at Government House 1997 July - Hong Kong is handed back to the Chinese authorities after more than 150 years of British control. Tung Chee-hwa, a Shanghai-born former shipping tycoon with no political experience, is hand-picked by Beijing to rule the territory following the takeover.

1998 May - First post-handover elections held. 2001 February - Deputy Chief Executive Anson Chan, a former deputy to Chris Patten and one of the main figures in the Hong Kong administration to oppose Chinese interference in the territory's affairs, resigns under pressure from Beijing and is replaced by Donald Tsang. 2002 June - Trial of 16 members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement arrested during a protest outside Beijing's liaison office in the territory. Falun Gong remains legal in Hong Kong, despite having been banned in mainland China in 1999, and the trial is seen as a test of the freedoms Beijing guaranteed to respect after the handover. The 16 are found guilty of causing a public obstruction. 2002 September - Tung Chee-hwa's administration releases proposals for controversial new anti-subversion law known as Article 23. 2003 March-April - Both China and Hong Kong are hit by the pneumonia-like Sars virus. Strict quarantine measures are enforced to stop the disease spreading. Hong Kong is declared free of Sars in June.

Calls for reform 2003 July - A day after a visit to the territory by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, 500,000 people march against Article 23. Two Hong Kong government members resign. The bill is shelved indefinitely. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A planned anti-subversion law sparked protests in 2003; Article 23 was subsequently shelved 2004 April - China rules that its approval must be sought for any changes to Hong Kong's election laws, giving Beijing the right to veto any moves towards more democracy, such as direct elections for the territory's chief executive. 2004 July - Some 200,000 people mark the seventh anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule by taking part in a demonstration protesting Beijing's ruling against electing the next chief executive by universal suffrage. Britain accuses China of interfering in Hong Kong's constitutional reform process in a manner inconsistent with self-governance guarantees agreed before the handover. 2004 September - Pro-Beijing parties retain their majority in LegCo elections widely seen as a referendum on Hong Kong's aspirations for greater democracy.

In the run-up to the poll, human rights groups accuse Beijing of creating a "climate of fear" aimed at skewing the result. 2004 December - Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers public rebuke to Tung Chee-hwa, telling him to improve his administration's performance. Change of guard 2005 March - Amid mounting criticism of his rule, Tung Chee-hwa resigns, citing failing health. He is succeeded in June by Donald Tsang. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Donald Tsang: controversy over links with tycoons dogged his last months as chief executive 2005 May - Hong Kong's highest court overturns the convictions of eight of the Falun Gong members who were found guilty of causing an obstruction in the territory in 2002. 2005 June - Tens of thousands of people commemorate sixteenth anniversary of crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. Hong Kong is the only part of China where the 1989 events are marked. 2005 September - Pro-democracy members of LegCo make unprecented visit to Chinese mainland.

Eleven members of the 25-strong pro-democracy group had been banned from the mainland for 16 years. 2005 December - Pro-democracy legislators block Mr Tsang's plans for limited constitutional reforms, saying they do not go far enough. Mr Tsang said his plans - which would have changed electoral processes without introducing universal suffrage - went as far as Beijing would allow. 2006 March - Pope Benedict XVI elevates Bishop Joseph Zen, the leader of Hong Kong's 300,000 Catholics and an outspoken advocate of democracy, to the post of cardinal. China warns Cardinal Zen to stay out of politics. 2006 July - Tens of thousands of people rally in support of full democracy. 2007 January - New rules aim to restrict the number of pregnant women from mainland China who come to Hong Kong to give birth. Many had been drawn by the prospect of gaining Hong Kong residency rights for their children and evading China's one-child policy.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption One country, two systems: Hong Kong celebrated the 10th anniversary of the handover from British to Chinese rule in 2007 2007 April - Chief Executive Donald Tsang is appointed to a new five-year term after winning elections in March. 2007 July - Hong Kong marks 10th anniversary of handover to China. New government under Chief Executive Donald Tsang is sworn in. Plans for full democracy unveiled. Timetable 2007 December - Beijing says it will allow the people of Hong Kong to directly elect their own leader in 2017 and their legislators by 2020. Mr Tsang hails this as "a timetable for obtaining universal suffrage", but pro-democracy campaigners express disappointment at the protracted timescale. 2008 September - Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp wins more than a third of seats in legislative elections, retaining a key veto over future bills.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Fears about the potential erosion of democratic freedoms grew in 2014 2009 June - Tens of thousands of people attend a vigil in Hong Kong on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The territory is the only part of China to mark the anniversary. 2009 December - Hong Kong authorities unveil proposals for political reform in response to pressure for greater democracy, including an enlarged Legislative Council; critics say the moves do not go far enough. 2010 May - Five opposition MPs are returned to their seats, in by-elections they triggered by quitting - a move intended to pressure China to grant the territory full democracy. Opposition Democratic Party, traditionally hostile to Beijing, holds its first talks with a Chinese official since the 1997 handover. 2012 July - Leung Chun-ying takes office as chief executive, succeeding Donald Tsang whose last months in office were dogged by controversy over his links with wealthy businessmen. 2012 September - Pro-democracy parties retain their power of veto over new laws in Legislative Council elections, but perform less well than expected.

Turnout, at over 50%, was higher than in 2008. 2013 June - Hundreds march in support of whistleblower Edward Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong after exposing secret US surveillance programmes. 2014 June - More than 90% of the nearly 800,000 people taking part in an unofficial referendum vote in favour of giving the public a say in short-listing candidates for future elections of the territory's chief executive. Beijing condemns the vote as illegal. Pro-democracy protests 2014 July - Tens of thousands of protesters take part in what organisers say could be Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy rally in a decade. 2014 August - Chinese government rules out a fully democratic election for Hong Kong leader in 2017, saying that only candidates approved by Beijing will be allowed to run. 2014 September-November - Pro-democracy demonstrators occupy the city centre for weeks in protest at the Chinese government's decision to limit voters' choices in the 2017 Hong Kong leadership election. More than 100,000 people took to the streets at the height of the Occupy Central protests.

2014 December - Authorities take down Mong Kok protest camp, leaving a few hundred protesters at two camps at Admiralty and Causeway Bay. 2014 December - Hong Kong tycoon and former government official Thomas Kwok is sentenced to five years in jail in the city's biggest-ever corruption case. 2015 June - Legislative Council rejects proposals for electing the territory's next leader in 2017. Despite pro-democracy protests and a lengthy consultation process, the plans remained the same as those outlined by China in 2014. 2016 August - Hundreds of protesters rally against the disqualification of six pro-independence candidates from Legislative Council elections on 4 September. 2016 September - A new generation of pro-independence activists win seats in Legislative Council elections in the highest turnout since the 1997 handover from Britain to China. 2016 November - Thousands of people gather in central Hong Kong to show their support for China's intervention in the territory's political affairs after Beijing moves to have two pro-independence legislators removed from office.

2016 November -The high court disqualifies pro-independence legislators Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-Ching from taking their seats in the Legislative Council after they refused to pledge allegiance to China during a swearing in ceremony. 2016 December - Chief Executive CY Leung announces he will not see re-election when his current term ends in July 2017, citing family reasons. Why Did China Lease Hong Kong to Britain? Why Did China Lease Hong Kong to Britain? China Why Did China Lease Hong Kong to Britain? Hong Kong Harbor, taken sometime between 1900 and 1923, during British control of the island. Library of Congress Prints and Photos By Kallie Szczepanski Updated March 16, 2016. The short answer to that question is that China lost Hong Kong to Great Britain in the Opium Wars , and later leased adjacent territories to the British under duress. Britain's reign over Hong Kong dates back to the 1842 Treaty of Nanking, which ended the First Opium War . But what is the longer answer? Nineteenth-century Britain had an insatiable appetite for Chinese tea.

However, the Qing Dynasty and its subjects did not want to buy anything that the British produced. The government of Queen Victoria did not want to use up any more of the country's reserves of gold or silver in buying tea, so it decided to forcibly export opium from the Indian Subcontinent to China. The opium would then be exchanged for tea. China's government, not too surprisingly, objected to the large-scale importation of narcotics into their country by a foreign power. When just banning opium imports did not work, because British merchants simply smuggled the drug into China, the Qing government took more direct action. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World In 1839, Chinese officials destroyed 20,000 bales of opium. This move provoked Britain to declare war in order to protect its illegal drug-smuggling operations. The First Opium War lasted from 1839 to 1842. Britain occupied the island of Hong Kong on January 25, 1841, and used it as a military staging point. China was defeated in the war, and had to cede Hong Kong to Britain in the aforementioned Treaty of Nanking.

Hong Kong became a Crown Colony of the British Empire . Status Changes of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories At this point, you may be wondering, "Wait a minute, Britain just grabbed Hong Kong. Where did the lease come in, then?" The British grew increasingly worried about the security of their free port at Hong Kong during the second half of the 19th century. It was an isolated island, surrounded by areas still under Chinese control. The British decided to make their authority over the area official with a legally binding lease. In 1860, at the end of the Second Opium War, the UK gained a perpetual lease over the Kowloon Peninsula, which is the mainland Chinese area just across the strait from Hong Kong Island. This agreement was part of the Convention of Beijing that ended that conflict. In 1898, the British and Chinese governments signed the Second Convention of Peking, which included a 99-year lease agreement for the islands surrounding Hong Kong, called the "New Territories." The lease awarded control of more than 200 surrounding small islands to the British. In return, China got a promise that the islands would be returned to it after 99 years.

On December 19, 1984, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, in which Britain agreed to return not only the New Territories but also Kowloon and Hong Kong itself when the lease term expired. China promised to implement a "One Country, Two Systems" regime, under which for fifty years Hong Kong citizens could continue to practice capitalism and political freedoms forbidden on the mainland. So, on July 1, 1997, the lease ended and the government of Great Britain transferred control of Hong Kong and surrounding territories to the People's Republic of China . The transition has been more or less smooth, although human rights issues and Beijing's desire for greater political control cause considerable friction from time to time. Hong Kong's Return To China: Year In Review 1997 | Hong Kong | Britannica.com EU Considers Rules For Robots At midnight on June 30/July 1, 1997, the crown colony of Hong Kong (see Map ) officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British rule.

After a formal handover ceremony on July 1, the colony became the Hong Kong special administrative region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China. The ceremony culminated a 13-year transition that had been initiated by the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, signed by the heads of the two governments in December 1984. The agreement stipulated that under Chinese rule the HKSAR would enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in matters of foreign relations and defense, and that the social and economic systems as well as the lifestyle in Hong Kong would remain unchanged for 50 years after 1997. Many observers, however, expressed considerable skepticism about China’s pledge to abide by the "one country, two systems" plan outlined in the agreement. They feared that China would drastically curtail the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents. Great Britain had acquired Hong Kong Island from China in 1842, when the Treaty of Nanking was signed at the end of the first Opium War (1839-42).

Unsatisfied with incomplete control of the harbour, the British forced China to cede Kowloon Peninsula south of what is now Boundary Street and Stonecutters Island less than 20 years later, after the second Opium War (1856-60). By the Convention of 1898, the New Territories together with 235 islands were leased to Britain for 99 years from July 1, 1898. After the communists took power in China in 1949, Hong Kong became a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing communist rule. In the following decades the Chinese government insisted that the treaties giving Britain sovereignty over Hong Kong were invalid. Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Although in 1984 Britain and China agreed on the terms of the handover of Hong Kong, Sino-British cooperation during the transition period deteriorated after the appointment in 1992 of Chris Patten as Hong Kong’s last colonial governor. Sharply breaking with past practice, Patten initiated a series of political reforms designed to give the people of Hong Kong a greater voice in government via democratic elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo).

China’s crackdown on the student-led democracy movement in 1989 fed anxiety in Hong Kong regarding the handover and led to the political awakening of a previously quiescent population. Beijing made efforts to stonewall Patten’s reforms, which it condemned as a betrayal of London’s earlier promises to manage the transition as an exercise in which Hong Kong had no voice of its own. When Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, led by barrister Martin Lee, routed pro-Beijing politicians in the 1995 LegCo elections, Beijing denounced Patten and began a series of strong measures aimed at reestablishing its influence. On March 24, 1996, China’s 150-member Preparatory Committee, which had been created to oversee the handover, voted to dissolve LegCo and install a provisional legislature after Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty. In December 1996 a China-backed special election committee selected the 60 members of the provisional body, just days after it had overwhelmingly elected 59-year-old shipping magnate Tung Chee-hwa (see BIOGRAPHIES ) the first chief executive of the HKSAR.

Tung, whose tottering corporate empire had been salvaged by a large infusion of government-supplied capital in the 1980s, soon signaled his intention to roll back Patten’s reforms, announcing in April 1997 proposals to restrict political groups and public protests after the handover. In essence, what Lee called the "Singaporization" of Hong Kong--i.e., the imposition of authoritarian control--had begun even before the Union Jack was lowered in the colony for the last time. Pomp and pageantry marked the formal handover ceremony. In attendance were numerous dignitaries from around the world, including Pres. Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng of China, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (see BIOGRAPHIES).

Prince Charles, who gave a short speech in which he congratulated the colony on its political, economic, and social successes, told the people of Hong Kong, "We shall not forget you, and we shall watch with the closest interest as you embark on this new era of your remarkable history." President Jiang, the first mainland Chinese head of state to visit Hong Kong since 1842, reassured residents that China would carry out the "one country, two systems" plan of local autonomy, which had been contrived principally by Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. Deng had passed away on February 19, just four and a half months before the handover he had hoped to witness. (See OBITUARIES.) On the morning of the handover, several thousand specially trained troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army were deployed in Hong Kong as garrison forces symbolizing the reassertion of China’s sovereignty. Chinese authorities did not attempt to suppress several rallies outside the LegCo building on June 30-July 1, even when Lee addressed thousands of demonstrators from a balcony after LegCo had officially been dissolved. The protests proceeded peacefully.

Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Tung, in his first speech as chief executive, skirted the issues of political rights and democracy, choosing to espouse "traditional Chinese values." He also dwelled on mundane but important issues such as housing and education, vowing to increase the rate of home ownership in Hong Kong to 70% in the next 10 years and to provide better training for teachers. Tung counted on enhanced social programs, including government payments to the elderly poor, and continuing prosperity to marginalize political opposition to his new administration. Most citizens of Hong Kong, of whom 95% were ethnic Chinese, appeared ready to give him the benefit of the doubt, at least for the time being. Tung and the provisional legislature prepared for the first posthandover legislative elections in mid-1998 by reworking the rules of the political game. On July 8 it was announced that only 20 of the 60 legislative seats would be filled via a system of proportional representation. The remaining 40 seats would be chosen by electoral colleges and an election committee, as they were in the period prior to the implementation of Patten’s reforms.

This change virtually ensured the dominance of Hong Kong’s business and professional elite, most of whose members valued stability--which they identified with their own power--over democratic representation. In the first months after the handover, Hong Kong was indeed stable. The outlook for the free exercise of political and civil rights in Hong Kong was clouded, however. Members of the Democratic Party protested that the new electoral system was created to minimize their influence, and Lee predicted that the Democrats would win no more than 10 of the 20 directly elected seats. Trending Topics Pearl Harbor attack President Jiang hailed the "return of Hong Kong to the motherland" as a great historical event that presaged Taiwan’s eventual reunification with mainland China. Both Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang and its main opposition, the Democratic Progressive Party, vigorously rejected Jiang’s assertion and vowed to resist Beijing’s attempts to exert pressure on the island nation. In late June Taiwan conducted live-fire military exercises, which were intended as a signal to China that Taiwan would resist any attempts at reunification. On June 28 approximately 70,000 people in Taiwan attended a "Say No to China" antireunification rally.

Although the Taiwanese government encouraged China to protect freedom in Hong Kong, it made it clear that Taiwan would not be absorbed in a similar manner. Lacrosse: Fact or Fiction? The United States, rather than Great Britain, was the principal Western power interested in holding China to its pledge of respecting Hong Kong’s political and economic autonomy. Both U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Albright informed Beijing that its behaviour with respect to Hong Kong would be considered a touchstone in Sino-American relations, and U.S. congressional leaders reinforced this message. Chinese leaders, meanwhile, severely restricted the access of their own citizens to Hong Kong, whose per capita gross domestic product of more than $24,000 was roughly 40 times that of China and whose habits of free expression and political participation were not ones that Beijing wished its own citizens to emulate. Article Contributors BBC ON THIS DAY | 26 | 1984: UK and China agree Hong Kong handover About This Site | Text Only 1984: UK and China agree Hong Kong handover Britain and China have finalised an agreement which will end more than 150 years of UK rule in Hong Kong.

The proposal - which will hand control of the colony to China in 1997 - creates an "island of capitalism" within a communist state. In a ceremony at the Great Hall of People in Beijing the document was initialled by the UK ambassador to China, Sir Richard Evans, and the head of the Chinese negotiating team, Zhou Nan. The British Government has been asked to give its approval to the treaty which ends two years of hard bargaining between the countries. Under the accord, the Chinese authorities have agreed Hong Kong will maintain a high degree of local autonomy and keep power over its social, economic and legal systems. But China will gain control of the city's defence and foreign affairs. Britain, which has controlled the island of Hong Kong almost interrupted since 1842, has also persuaded the Chinese to leave the colony untouched for 50 years and provide a plan for its future. 'Blueprint' Sir Richard said the joint declaration was "the practical embodiment of the imaginative concept of one country, two systems". The Governor of the island, Sir Edward Youde, flew straight back from the ceremony to address a special meeting of the Hong Kong Legislative Council about the agreement.

"It constitutes a blueprint for a new stage in Hong Kong's development - as such I commend it to this council and to the community at large," he said. The British Government has set up an assessment office to gauge the public response to the White Paper. But although the people of Hong Kong can technically reject the proposals, the declaration makes it clear any other agreement may not go so far to protect their interests. Hong Kong's democracy debate - BBC News BBC News Close share panel Image copyright AFP Image caption Hong Kong has its own legal system, with rights such as freedom of assembly and free speech protected Hong Kong legislators have rejected a reform package that would have allowed direct elections for the territory's leader in 2017. The reforms were endorsed by the Chinese government, but many in Hong Kong are opposed to it. There were huge street protests and blockades last year, when Beijing ruled out open nominations for the election of Hong Kong's chief executive in 2017. The BBC takes a look at the controversy. What is Hong Kong's relationship with China? Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain.

China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of "one country, two systems", where the city would enjoy "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years. As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. Its leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee. A majority of the representatives are viewed as pro-Beijing. Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law , says that "the ultimate aim" is to elect the chief executive "by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures". What are the reforms about? The Chinese government promised direct elections for chief executive by 2017. But in August 2014 China's top legislative committee ruled that voters would only be able to choose from a list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee. This committee would be formed "in accordance with" Hong Kong's largely pro-Beijing election committee. Any candidate would have to secure the support of more than 50% of the nominating committee before being able to run in the election.

Democracy activists argue that this gives China the ability to screen out any candidates it disapproves of. Hong Kong's government put together an electoral reform package based on Beijing's ruling. But pro-democracy legislators vetoed the bill, which requires the support of two-thirds of the 70-seat legislature to pass. Image copyright AP Image caption Occupy Central is one of several pro-democracy groups pushing for electoral reform in Hong Kong What do democracy activists say? They have dubbed the proposed new system a "sham democracy". Prominent pro-democracy groups include Occupy Central , led by academic Benny Tai, and student groups such as the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism. Occupy Central organised an unofficial referendum on political reform in June 2014. About one in five Hong Kong residents turned out for it - and 88% of participants said the legislative council should veto any political reform package that did not satisfy international standards and allow a genuine choice for voters. Shortly after the vote, tens of thousands of protesters took part in what observers say was Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy rally in a decade on 1 July, which marked the day Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997.

Since then, the student groups have become a key player as well. In late September they led a week of class boycotts, which later grew into full-scale city-wide protests - dubbed the Umbrella Movement - when Occupy Central decided to join in. Tens of thousands camped in the streets for weeks, holding their ground despite clashes with police. But in late November and December the protests petered out - the camps were gradually dismantled by police. Despite talks between the students and high-level officials, the protests ended with no concessions from government. Image copyright AFP Image caption A rally by pro-Beijing groups on 17 August drew thousands Does everyone want full democracy? No. Pro-Beijing groups, such as Silent Majority for Hong Kong and Caring Hong Kong Power have emerged, criticising pro-democracy activists for "endangering" the city. They argue that continued civil disobedience and opposition to Beijing would only damage the city's reputation and economy, as well as its relationship with China. These groups have organised several protests against Occupy Central and the pro-democracy movement. Such large-scale pro-government protests are rare in Hong Kong, and some questioned their legitimacy, especially when reports emerged that some marchers were paid to attend.

Business leaders, who favour stability, have also opposed pro-democracy protests. Pro-China legislators have argued that Beijing's proposals are an improvement on the current system. Several groups have rallied against the pro-democracy protests. In November, police arrested a number of people involved in scuffles with pro-democracy protesters camped in the streets, and said that among those arrested were people with links to triad gangs. Some of the public who previously backed the sentiment of the Occupy Central protests also turned against it, because of the disruption caused by the ongoing sit-ins in central areas and streets. A number of businesses sought court injunctions to have the roads cleared. Image copyright EPA Image caption China has denounced the street protests that took place in early October as "illegal" What does China say? China has consistently denounced pro-democracy protests, and called last year's street occupations "illegal". On 16 June, the deputy commissioner for Beijing's foreign affairs office in Hong Kong denounced the "despicable means" and "extremely violent activities" of opposition activists. "We hope that the moderate pan-democrats will see through the true face of radical forces," Song Ruan was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency, ahead of the vote on the reform package.

In a June 2014 white paper , China said some had a "confused and lopsided" understanding of the "one country, two systems" model. China has constantly stressed that unity is the way forward for the country, as it grapples with demands for greater autonomy in Xinjiang and Tibet. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The current chief executive of Hong Kong is Leung Chun-ying What is the Hong Kong government's stand? Chief Executive CY Leung hailed Beijing's decision on election candidacy as a "major step forward in the development of Hong Kong's society". His government said June's unofficial referendum had no legal standing. It also welcomed the Chinese government's white paper, saying that Hong Kong has benefited from the "one country, two systems" model.

Question: In which year was Hong Kong handed back to the Chinese government?
Answer: 1997