Hong Kong is a city that is at the mouth of the Pearl River located at Southern China. It has a population of six million people in 422 square miles of land. It has a very strong economy and a very good natural harbor. It also has a very long and complex history. Hong Kong, now call the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was mostly ceded by China to Great Britain. The Hong Kong Island was ceded in 1842, and the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island was ceded in 1860 by China. But China made a deal with Great Britain and Hong Kong was returned to China by 1997, and in return, China leased the New Territories for 99 years, starting from 1989 to 1997. This deal was known as the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984
The Return of Hong Kong, also known as the Handover of Hong Kong, took place at the new Convection Center that was just built before the Handover. The actual Handover take place at 12:00 a.m. at July 1st of 1997. But long before than, the transaction began. At 4:00p.m. of June 30th, the British flag was, for the last time, being lowered from the Government House. Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong for British, left his house with his family at the same time. Then after the speeches from Prince Charles and Governor Patten, fireworks were display over the Victory Harbor in celebrating the conclusion and end of the 150 years of British rule. Almost at the same time, the Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrives in Hong Kong, who was his first time visiting Hong Kong. He received a oval welcome by the Hong Kong residents
The event happened in the Convention Center. The transaction had began. The Prince of Wales representing the United Kingdom, gave a speech about Hong Kong and it's economy, society and democracy. He also spoke about the special affection Britain has for Hong Kong. Then the audience stand and the Union Jack and the Hong Kong flag went down while God Save the Queen played, ending the British rule of 150 years in Hong Kong. Then the China's Flag and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Flag rose while the Chinese National Anthem played. Then China's President Jiang Zemin gave a speech, and the ceremony was over.