Hong Kong reverts to China

HONG KONG (JP): In a solemn ceremony, Hong Kong returned to China yesterday after 156 years of British rule.

The Union Jack was lowered seconds before midnight, yielding to the red flag of the People's Republic of China.

The grand event, staged before envoys from around the world, marked Britain's departure from the Far East as a colonial power.

Minutes after the Chinese flag was raised, together with the new flag of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), China's President Jiang Zemin pledged that he would maintain Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the rule of law.

In his speech during the handover ceremony at the grand hall of the newly built Hong Kong Convention Center, Jiang stressed China's commitment to uphold the "one country, two systems" principle.

"After the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government will uphold the principle of one country two systems, Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy and keep the previous social, economic system and way of life of the people of Hong Kong unchanged," Jiang said.

Under the principle drawn up by former patriarch Deng Xiaoping, Hong Kong, will control its economy and financial affairs while Beijing will be responsible for the territory's foreign and defense policies.

Although Deng was the architect of Hong Kong's peaceful handover, the man basking in the limelight was communist party chief Jiang, who yesterday morning became the first Chinese leader set foot on Hong Kong soil during the British rule.

Prior to Jiang's speech, Britain's Prince Charles also addressed the audience, saying that the handover signified the end of the British administration in the territory but the continuity of cooperation between Britain and China.

Jiang was accompanied by Premier Li Peng, Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, and Hong Kong's new chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, while the Prince of Wales' entourage included Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Minister Robin Cook and outgoing Hong Kong governor Chris Patten.

Hong Kong was ceded to Britain by China in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, the year after British forces landed in the territory.

Following the handover, 50 years of autonomy is guaranteed under a 1984 Sino-British accord governing the handover.

Jiang met with Blair before the handover was conducted.

Blair arrived in Hong Kong earlier yesterday and was scheduled to leave Britain's former colony shortly after the midnight ceremony.

Around 4,000 VIP guests attended the historic ceremony of Hong Kong's reunification with China, which included among others, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.

At the end of the ceremony Prince Charles and Jiang shook hands and smiled at each other before the heir to the British throne and Patten left to sail away from Hong Kong on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Britannia was taking the British delegation to the Philippines, where the Prince of Wales is scheduled to make an official visit.

Asserting China's new rule, the People's Liberation Army sent more than 500 troops into Hong Kong to take over barracks vacated by the departing British.

Four thousand more troops are to arrive this morning by land, sea and air.

After the official handover ceremony, Chinese officials then held a separate ceremony to inaugurate Tung as SAR chief executive and the Beijing appointed Provisional Legislature.

Prior to the handover ceremony, a dazzling fireworks display illuminated the sky above Victoria Harbor.

The 20-minute display drew thousands to the harborfront despite the driving rain which plagued the day's outdoor festivities.

The mood was exuberant on the streets, with crowds braving the rain to celebrate the historic moment. Parties were expected to last well into the early hours of the morning.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party chief Martin Lee delivered an emotional post-handover address to 1,500 supporters from the balcony of the Legislative Council building. The speech was in defiance of a ban by Tung's new administration.

Editorial -- Page 4

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