Hong Kong’s handover: How the UK returned it to China

On 1 July, Hong Kong marks the 20th anniversary of the handover from British rule back to China. Here is what you need to know: What led to the handover? Britain first took over Hong Kong island in 1842, after defeating China in the First Opium War. ( read original story ...)

Cantonese v Mandarin: When Hong Kong languages get political

When Hong Kong was handed back from the UK to China in 1997, only a quarter of the population spoke any Mandarin. Now, two decades later, that figure has nearly doubled. But even as people get better at communicating in Mandarin, also known as Putonghua ... ( read original story ...)

Hong Kong Anniversary News Headlines | Reuters

Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested pro-democracy protesters, some of whom scrambled up a monument symbolizing the city's handover from British to Chinese rule, a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to arrive for the celebrations. Many Hong ... ( read original story ...)

One Hong Kong, two sentiments after 20 years of Chinese rule

Ahead of the anniversary, state broadcaster China Central Television has been running daily news features extolling what it calls the inextricable ties between China and Hong Kong in fields ranging from sports to the military and the arts. Underneath the ... ( read original story ...)

Hong Kong wealth gap worst in five decades: Oxfam

Income inequality in Hong Kong has hit its highest level in almost 50 years as a red-hot property bubble squeezes the financial hub's most vulnerable and risks fuelling social tensions, Income inequality in the financial hub of Hong Kong has hit its ... ( read original story ...)

Hong Kong: the 20th anniversary of the handover – Q&A

Hong Kong is marking 20 years since the territory was handed from Britain to China, bringing an end to more than 150 years of colonial rule. When the Chinese flag was raised over the city on 1 July, 1997, Hong Kong was not entirely integrated with the rest ... ( read original story ...)

Hong Kong’s youth press campaign for full democracy

HONG KONG -- When the British handed over Hong Kong to China in 1997, Beijing promised to allow universal suffrage as an "ultimate aim", along with other freedoms, under a "one country, two systems" arrangement agreed with London. That's not going to ... ( read original story ...)

Hong Kong activists hold China protest before Xi trip

The statue symbolises Hong Kong's return to China by Britain [Tyrone Siu/Reuters] Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters have draped a black flag over a statue symbolising the city's return to China by Britain, just days before a visit by President Xi Jinping ... ( read original story ...)

Hong Kong’s ageing time bomb a cause for concern

Hong Kong’s men and women also enjoy the longest life expectancy in the world – 87 years for women and 81 for men – implying that more people will be relying on social services paid by a shrinking workforce. In just two decades, the percentage of ... ( read original story ...)