Hong Kong enters ‘new era’ as city returns to Chinese rule in 1997 – SCMP archive

This article was first published on July 1, 1997
Tung and his team sworn in as Patten bids tearful farewell
by Chris Yeung
Hong Kong entered its new era at the stroke of midnight, launching a historic experiment with the strongest pledge yet of non-interference from President Jiang Zemin.
As June 30 moved into July 1, the flags of Britain and Hong Kong were lowered, and those of China and the SAR raised in the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The return to China after 156 years of colonial rule...