Tenth Anniversary of Hong Kong Handover
Last updated: 2007-06-28
It's ten years since Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, handed over the former British colony to the Chinese. The rain poured down like there was no tomorrow on that evening, as the governor and his daughters stood in tears to the sound of Elgar's Nimrod and the British flag was lowered. Hong Kong was witness to a display of fireworks that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Poignantly, it was also the final voyage of the Royal Yacht Britannia, as she lead a formation of British naval ships and carried her VIP passengers away from Hong Kong for the last time and a big chunk of the old Empire was consigned to the history books.
He may not admit it but I'm sure Lord Patten still dwells on those days. During his 5 years as Hong Kong Governor, he was referred to as Pang Ting Hong/Peng Dingkang, his official Chinese name. His children spent a significant part of their lives growing up in Hong Kong. He is credited with playing a key role in the dignified transition from British to Chinese rule.
Ten years on, Mr Patten talks to Chinese film crews, eager to hear his reflections on the handover. His daughters have grown up, he carries out his duties attending the House of Lords and he occasionally visits Hong Kong where he is welcomed like a superstar. During the promotion of his book 'Not Quite the Diplomat', people queued for hours to meet him.
Patten truly embraced the Hong Kong life during his tenure as governor, with it's fast paced hustle and bustle, the traders, the unique urban existence of the Hong Kong people. He loved it all. His fight for the rights of the colony won him the love of the people and the respect of his critics.
Ten years have passed since those days. Hong Kong Chinese, with their mixed feelings about the handover, some who hated the colonialist rule, some who welcomed the protection from the mess of 20th century China... most found the prospect of Chinese rule worrying in some way. How have things developed in the last decade?
One of the first things to happen was a massive economic crisis. Hong Kong lost it's old downtown international hub as Kai Tak airport was closed forever and the farcical opening of the new Chep Lap Kok airport made the headlines. Hong Kong recovered from the economic crisis and the World famous city skyline grew to even more spectacular heights. Significantly, the demographic of the tourists that enjoy these spectacular views has shifted heavily towards Chinese mainlanders and much of the sales talk in the shopping malls is done in Mandarin rather than the local Cantonese.
Americana had smeared it's itself on the territory with the arrival of Disneyland Hong Kong, which opened it's gates in 2005 and mainland Chinese can now enjoy the plastic façade of American culture, right in the heart of East Asia.
The SARS virus almost finished of the hotel industry and for a while, even the largest hotels often had guest numbers that struggled to make it to double figures. This near catastrophe for a place that relies so heavily on tourism was a wake up call and the hotel industry has since started to focus on smaller types of boutique hotel.
Even though many of the middle classes fled to places like Canada in the run up to the handover, many are returning to the booming territory as they begin to consider that maybe things didn't turn out as badly as they expected. Hong Kong is not a democracy but there is a general feeling that it has managed to keep many aspects of a free society.
Were you in Hong Kong back in the days of British rule? What are your memories of those days and how have things changed for you? Are you new to Hong Kong and do you have anything to add on the feel of Hong Kong under Chinese rule?...
Join our Hong Kong Handover forum thread to add your thoughts.