Anthony
1. Hong Kong Is Back to China in the Handover Ceremony .................. 30
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Reported by: Bo Xiong, Jianmin LI. Source: TV Live Broadcasts.
Exactly at 00:00AM, July 1, 1997, five-star red flag was raised to
full staff as PRC National Anthem played to the end. Hong Kong, the
oriental pearl, finally returned to China after 156 years of British
rule. No one in 1842 or in 1898 would expect such grand and formal
ceremony could ever take place when the island of Hong Kong and its
adjacent territories were taken away from China.
The ceremony started at about 11:30 PM, June 30 with military bands of both
sides playing music. At about 10 minutes to midnight, Chinese and British
leaders were introduced to 4000 invited guests presenting at the ceremony.
A few minutes before 00:00AM, July 1, 1997, British Prince Charles
delivered his handover speech, then British Military band played
the national anthem of U.K. and the Union flag and Hong Kong colony
flag were lowered. As a symbol of Hong Kong transfer to China, PLA
band played PRC national anthem as PRC flag and Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region flag were hoisted. JIANG Zemin gave a speech
to 4,000 guests from all over the world after the 00:00AM time of
July 1, 1997
The two countries sent their highest delegations to the ceremony:
during the ceremony, sitting with the prince on the right hand side of
the stage was British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary
Robin Cook, the outgoing colonial governor Chris Patten and a British
general. On the left with Jiang were Chinese Premier LI Peng, Foreign
Minister QIAN Qichen, the incoming Hong Kong chief executive TUNG
Chee-hwa and PLA vice joint-chief of staff ZHANG Wan-nian.
The ceremony took about 30 minutes and went smoothly in a solemn and
dignified atmosphere as seen from live TV broadcasts.