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The Secret of Hong Kong's Return: What Incredible Changes Happened in 1997?
1997 was a historic turning point for Hong Kong, a transformation that came both swiftly and incredibly. With the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty by Britain to China, the concept of "one country, two systems" was widely mentioned and implemented for the first time. However, behind this policy lie many unknown facts and potential risks.
The formation of "One Country, Two Systems"
The "one country, two systems" concept was proposed by Chinese Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping to ensure that Hong Kong can maintain its unique social, economic and legal systems after its return. During the negotiations between China and Britain in the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping reiterated the necessary stability for Hong Kong's future and pointed out the possible emergence of "destructive forces".
"Hong Kong's political system should be shaped in its own context rather than simply imitating the British and American systems. This is a challenge for us."
Considerations before the return
Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years, and its governance model and legal system are completely different from those on the mainland. The discussion about Hong Kong's return is not just about assets, but also involves the future living conditions and political rights of Hong Kong citizens.
According to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, China will formulate the Basic Law in order to continue to maintain Hong Kong's original capitalist economic system after its return, which is scheduled to last for 50 years, that is, until 2047.
Institutional implementation and challenges
Although the policy claimed that Hong Kong's freedom and development would continue to be protected, political and social tensions continued to escalate in the following years. The Umbrella Movement in 2014 was the citizens’ call for genuine universal suffrage and greater autonomy. Later, the government’s tough response to the protests caused many citizens to have doubts.
"If Hong Kong becomes a base for opposition to mainland China, then the Chinese central government must intervene."
Cultural and Language Differences
Culturally, the differences between Hong Kong and the Mainland are also significant. Cantonese and English are the official languages of Hong Kong, in stark contrast to the dominance of Mandarin. This cultural background has enabled Hong Kong to maintain its unique identity even after its return.
The formal legal and language systems are an important factor preventing many companies from entering the mainland market. The specific implementation of "one country, two systems" is also a key to Hong Kong's future development.
Subsequent developments: The impact of the national security law
In 2020, the National Security Law was implemented in Hong Kong, marking an important adjustment to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. The passage of this law sparked strong resistance from the international community, with many people seeing it as a serious violation of the Basic Law and previous commitments.
"If we want to promote 'one country, two systems' in a long-term and stable manner, we must protect Hong Kong's freedoms by law."
Future Direction: Where to Go?
Despite the current uncertain legal and political environment, many Hong Kong citizens are actively exploring possibilities for the future. Regarding Hong Kong after 2047, senior government officials have expressed the potential possibility of continuing the "one country, two systems" policy, but a specific implementation plan has yet to be implemented.
Everything Hong Kong has experienced since its return to China has revealed its fragility and challenges under the "one country, two systems" principle. Can this history allow today's Hong Kong residents to feel the glory of the past?
