Hong Kong Handover Ceremony - ITN Special Programme "Farewell to Hong Kong" (1997)

On 26 September 1984, British and Chinese government agreed on a finalised draft of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The declaration, signed on 19 December 1984, laid out the terms for the handover of Hong Kong to Chinese governorship after 150 years of British rule. These included the principle of 'one country, two systems' where China would allow Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and freedoms of assembly, speech and press. However some, including Hong Kong's Democratic Party, feared that the transition would in fact lead to a loss of democracy under the Communist country.
The official transfer of power took place at midnight on 1 July 1997 when Prince Charles joined outgoing Governor, Chris Patten, to watch the Union Jack lowered for the last time.
ITN teams were in Hong Kong in the lead up to and aftermath of the handover.
#hongkong #princecharles #princeofwales #chrispatten #china #colonialism #jiangzemin #hongkonghandover #jeremyirons
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[@toddyoung569]

I visited Hong Kong in 1989. Was such a vibrant energetic city. But even then, years before the turnover, businesses and people were packing up and leaving. They knew the CCP. They could read the writing on the wall.

[@EnglishScripter]

Yeah Britain was such a bad colonial overlord... Just look at how China treats them, rather than making them have to think, they get told what todo!

[@enochcafe]

I think for many Hongkongers, it was the saddest day in our history. I still remember 30 June 1997 as it was yesterday. There were celebrations, but that was stemming from an optimism without choices. Most people n the territory, the Hongkongese, the British, other ethnic minorities, were hoping the better days will come after the Handover. Everyone knew the white elephant in the room and the tragic truth that Hong Kong cannot gain independence and there was no way the UK can continue to keep Hong Kong, which was against the majority wish in the city. But people back then hoped for the best, and what's the better way (and very British) to drink your sorrow in a sense of optimism and humour? Of course, not everyone was dancing with glee. A lot of Hongkongers were watching the Handover ceremony with an intense mixed of emotion and solemnity at their own homes, hoping after years of tug of war over democratisation between the British and the Chinese during the transition period will finally come to an end and the Chinese will honour their promises. After that fateful day, it would be unfair for me to say Hong Kong was not fairing well after the first 10 years of the Handover. Slowly China began to erode Hong Kong's freedom and way of life, and in the 23rd year after the Handover (2020), the chapter of Hong Kong's short lived autonomy and the promise of "Hong Kong people to run Hong Kong" finally came to an end. Once again a new edition of China imperialism and colonialism lay bear in front of the whole world in the expense of the death of a once greatest city on earth.

[@ajs41]

I visited Hong Kong in 2005 and it still seemed to be doing quite well at that time.

[@TheWedabest]

The whole one state two systems thing was going to end! Everyone knew it was going to end! It just happened sooner than later.

[@theprofiler8531]

I remembered watching this live. At one point it rained hard but the men didn’t falter. I remember how professional they were.

[@andrewbernard8752]

Spoiler alert: things went south in hk ever since

[@Fatty2-sj8vr]

That was a long time ago now, 27 years ago.

[@ajs41]

Seems like yesterday to me.

[@27twilightmoon]

I think none of the British Hong Kong yuppies in the Regent Hotel at 2:33 are still working in Hong Kong 😂

[@enochcafe]

You never know. I know plenty of families stayed and they are still in Hong Kong

[@Little-Oshawott-2010]

I think that Great Britain should take Communist China to the UN's International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court in regards to alleged violations of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration in the mid-late 2010s and 2020s.

[@Little-Oshawott-2010]

Especially the Causaway Books Dissappearances, the electorial reforms, police brutality by the Hong Kong Police Force during the mass protests in 2014 and 2019, the Hong Kong National Security Law, the National Anthem Law, and Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law which recently passed through legislation.

[@pbworld7858]

Cry about it. UK ruled over HK with an iron fist - total police corruption in the 50s and 60s, yellow people weren't allowed to live on the peak at one time, and absolutely no elections until the lead up to 1997. UK has gone to the dogs - a total dump overrun with criminals, and HK thugs aren't helping. A lot are finding out that the UK is not the land of milk and honey - high prices, poverty, crime, drugs, killings, racist abuse. And these thugs come to UK creating more trouble for the established Chinese community in UK who are totally not interested in these BNO's hissy fits. Just what freedoms do they want? The freedom to set fire to the city and passers-by? Try that in the UK!

[@diligentone-six2688]

What they don't understand is that Opportunistic leaders will play the part until they achieve their objective. And they have achieve their goal of subduing Hong Kong and its people.

[@kevin_1230]

Shame. Look at hong kong now.

[@Thedecider1984]

July 1st, Di birthday

[@OffendingTheOffendable]

Welcome to the CCP fellas😂