July 1 1997 marked the official transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China. The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration gave rise to the event as then-Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher agreed that the territory would be handed back to Beijing. A ceremony was held at a new wing of Wan Chai’s Exhibition Centre on June 30.

A photo dated 19 December, 1984 shows Chinese Premier of the People’s Republic of China Zhao Ziyang (R, first row) and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L, first row) in Beijing during the signing ceremony of the Joint Delcaration. Photo: Pierre Antoine-Donnet/AFP.
Britain’s Prince Charles (L) shares a laugh with Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten (R) prior to a “Beat the Retreat” police ceremony at Government House in Hong Kong, 28 June 1997. Photo: Tommy Cheng/AFP.
Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee, L, shakes hands with legislator Cheng Yiu-tong after the last session under British rule of the Hong Kong Legislative Council Saturday, 28 June. The council, the territory’s first elected legislature, is to be disbanded and replaced by China’s self-selected body after the handover. Photo: AFP/Pool/Vincent Yu.
A British woman holds up a Union Jack flag while partying with friends in the Lan Kwai Fong entertainment area of Hong Kong, 29 June 1997. Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP.
British solders participate in the British Military Farewell Ceremony at the HMS Tamar military base in Hong Kong, 30 June 1997, marking the handover of Hong Kong Photo: Romeo Gacad/AFP.
Soldiers of the Hong Kong Garrison People’s Liberation Army (PLA) clap during the farewell ceremony attended by Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Liu Huaqing at Tong Le Camp in Shenzhen, 30 June 1997, the day they prepare to enter Hong Kong at midnight as China assumes sovereignty of the territory after 156 years of British rule. Photo: Manuel Ceneta/AFP.
Workers prepare to take down a Royal Crest at a Hong Kong’s Government office 30 June, 1997. Chris Patten, the 28th and last governor of Hong Kong left his official residence with just a few hours remaining of British sovereignty over the territory. Photo: Xinhua/AFP/Handout.
Chinese border guards (R) at the Wen Jingdu border post are lined up as convoys of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) trucks and armoured vehicles enter the border crossing towards Hong Kong, early on 1 July, 1997. Some 4,000 PLA troops began pouring into Hong Kong at dawn in the first hours after the territory returned to Chinese rule. Photo: Manuel Ceneta/AFP.
This file photo dated 01 July, 1997 shows a Chinese soldier (2nd L) holding the national flag prior to its raising as the British military march at right during the handover ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking the end of 156 years of British colonial rule over the territory. Photo: Paul Lakatos/AFP.
Tung Chee-hwa (L) raises his hand as he takes an oath opposite Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng during his swearing in ceremony as Hong Kong’s new and first chief executive, on 1 July 1997. The 60-year-old shipping magnate delivered a speech that laid stress on the greatness of the moment but tiptoed away from the question of public representation in the Provisional Legislature. Photo: Yoshikasu Tsuno/AFP.
Britain’s Prince of Wales (C) shows the way to Chinese President Jiang Zemin as British Prime Minister Tony Blair follows (R) at the end of the ceremony marking the handover of Hong Kong to China Tuesday July 1, 1997. Photo: Dylan Martinez/AFP Pool.
Photo: GovHK.
Photo: GovHK.
Photo: GovHK.
One year on: Workers hang a decorations reading “Celebrating the First Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to the Motherland” on 22 June, 1998, on a Hong Kong office building. Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP.

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