The handover ceremony 29 years ago marked the end of over 150 years of British colonial rule in the city
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenSCMPPublished: 1:30pm, 1 Jul 2026This article was first published on July 1, 1997
Hong Kong entered its new era at the stroke of midnight, launching a historic experiment with the strongest pledge yet of non-interference from President Jiang Zemin.
As June 30 moved into July 1, the flags of Britain and Hong Kong were lowered, and those of China and the SAR raised in the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The return to China after 156 years of colonial rule came at the end of a day packed with emotion. It was followed by swearing-in ceremonies for the Chief Executive, senior officials, the Judiciary and the provisional legislature during the early hours.
President Jiang, the first head of state of China to visit Hong Kong, flew in during the afternoon, shortly after Governor Chris Patten bade farewell to Government House.
In a statement which appears on the front of our second section today, the President stresses that central government departments “will not and should not be allowed to intervene in matters that ought to be handled by the Hong Kong SAR as called for by the Basic Law. This must be achieved and it will be achieved”.
