Since 1997, when Hong Kong, a former British colony, reverted to Chinese control, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of people from the…
Hong Kong handover
Twenty years after Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997, the future of this Special Administrative Region remains uncertain. The "one country, two systems" framework—guaranteeing Hong Kong's economic and political systems remain unchanged for 50 years—now appears under threat with ever more brazen examples of Chinese interference.
RED LINE
Xi Jinping invokes Opium Wars at the inauguration of Hong Kong’s new leader
In his most high-profile address in Hong Kong since becoming China’s president, Xi Jinping gave a nationalistic history lesson on Hong Kong’s takeover by the…
WELCOME EMPEROR XI
Hong Kong is relentless in its memes making fun of Chinese president Xi Jinping and his followers
Hong Kongers are known to have a good sense of humor. And with Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to Hong Kong for the 20th anniversary…
HAPPY PRIDE, COMRADE!
Why the rainbow flag emoji flooded the Facebook livestream of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s remarks in Hong Kong
“Hello comrades! You’ve worked hard, comrades!” When Chinese president Xi Jinping repeated this to soldiers during a Chinese military parade in Hong Kong on June…
HOMETOWN
“If you are born and raised in Hong Kong, you care about Hong Kong’s future more than anything”
This extract has been excerpted with permission from PEN Hong Kong from the essay “Hometown,” by Kris Cheng, part of the anthology Hong Kong 20/20:…
LOOKING BACK
The faces of Hong Kong: A timeline of the 20 years since the handover
Just past midnight on July 1, 1997, Chris Patten, the last governor of the Crown Colony, sipped a glass of red wine as he sailed…
REVISING THE PAST
China would prefer Hong Kong forget about another historic anniversary that falls this year
As China prepares to celebrate its 20th year of recovered sovereignty over Hong Kong—which until the 1997 handover had been a British colony for a…
ONE COUNTRY FULL STOP
On June 31, 1997, Hong Kong had a taste of independence for just one day
It was June 31, 1997. Hong Kong experienced a moment of tranquility it never had before: Strong community spirit was seen as friendly citizens helped…
THE LINE IS DRAWN
“One country, two systems” is full of contradictions: just look at the Hong Kong-China border
No place better illuminates the current state of affairs in Hong Kong than its edges. Twenty years after the former British enclave reverted to Chinese…
ALIVE AND KICKING
Cantonese isn’t dead yet, so stop writing its eulogy
When I decided to start studying Mandarin as a teenager, friends and family approved. China was enjoying explosive economic growth, so speaking the country’s lingua…
GAME ON
Hong Kong’s “Will Xi or won’t Xi” visit guessing game is over, but another one has begun
Every five years since the 1997 handover, China’s president has come to Hong Kong to mark the anniversary and preside over the swearing-in of the…
THE YOUTH TURNOUT
Joshua Wong reflects on Hong Kong’s 1997 handover: “We desire and thirst for freedom, democracy”
This extract has been excerpted with permission from PEN Hong Kong from the essay “My Journey as a Student Activist,” by Joshua Wong, part of…
