The Union Jack was lowered for the last time over Government House in Hong Kong in 1997.

The British flag was first raised over Hong Kong by Captain Edward Belcher on January 26, 1841, after Hong Kong was taken from China during the Opium Wars. For over 150 years, Hong Kong was a British colony. Under British rule, the citizens of Hong Kong had a democratically elected government and a thriving capitalist economy. The transfer of Hong Kong to the communist People’s Republic of China, an event that was set in motion in 1984, took place in a carefully orchestrated ceremony. Just before midnight on this day in 1997, the British flag, the Union Jack, was lowered as the British national anthem played. After a brief pause, the flag of China was raised just after midnight to the sound of the Chinese national anthem. The historic ceremony was met with celebration in the streets of Hong Kong, although some pro-democracy advocates expressed concern over the loss of democratic freedoms. Indeed, just after the transfer took place, Hong Kong’s elected leaders were replaced by Beijing-appointed leaders. Civil liberties, such as the right to protest, were restricted, and Chinese military moved into Hong Kong. Although these changes took place, Hong Kong was guaranteed a significant level of autonomy in the Joint Declaration between China and Britain. Hong Kong is considered a special autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China.

EconEdLink
In One Country/Two Systems (9–12), students visit Web sites that help them compare and evaluate the economic and political systems of China and Hong Kong, a year and a half after Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese control.