Hong Kong was ceded to the Great Britain in1842 and returned to China in 1997.China has undergone its downfall and revival duringHong Kong’s colonization of 145 years.
Hong Kong is a unique administrative district in southern China.It is located at the shore of South China Sea，east to the estuary of the Pearl River and south of Shenzhen.Hong Kong is consisted of three parts：Hong Kong Island，Kowloon，and New Territory.The area of Hong Kong is 1，095 square kilometers and its population i s 6，9 0 0，0 0 0.T h e G re a t B r i t a i n i n i t i a t e d t h e O p i u m War with China in 1840 and coerced China to sign the Nanjing Treaty in 1842 which agreed to cede Hong KongIsland to the Great Britain permanently.In 1860，the GreatBritain forced China to sign the Beijing Treaty and cede the south part of Kowloon peninsula permanently.In1898，the Great Britain forced the China to sign the Treaty to Expand the Hong Kong Borderline and seized the hold of the northern part of the Kowloon peninsula which was named New Territory.The lease was 99 years until June 30，1997.The Chinese people have fought against the above three unequal treaties constantly.During1982 to 1984，the Chinese government and the British government have held a series of negotiations and signed the Announcement on Hong Kong by China and the UK.The announcement declared that the Chinese government will resume its dominion on Hong Kong in 1997.On July1，1997，the Great Britain returned Hong Kong to China.The Chinese government carried out policies like“two systems under one nation”and“Hong Kong governed by Hong Kong people.”The Law on Hong Kong as a Special Administrative District was enacted.Beside diplomatic and national defence matters，Hong Kong is administered by the Hong Kong government.The regime，life mode，and laws of Hong Kong remain steady.
Hong Kong is a free harbor and has become one of themost important center of world trade，finance，shipping，tourism，and information both in the Pacific and in the world.The export and machining system of textile，rag trade，electronics，horologe，and plastic have become the mainstream.There are famous universities like Hong Kong University，Hong Kong Chinese University，Hong Kong Science and Techology University.Tourist sites in Hong Kong include commercial districts like Causeway Bay，Sheung Wan，Central，Mong Kok，Tsim Sha Tsui and famous theme parks like the Ocean Park，Big Budha，Sung Dynasty Village，etc.Hong Kong is worthy ofthe name Oriental Pearl.Its GDP is the second in Asia，ranking after Japan.It is a competitive and free society in Asia and in the world.Ten years after its return to China，Hong Kong is increasingly closer to the mainland economically and is getting to be even more prosperous.It overcame the Asian finance crisis.The social life has been stable.Its status in the world has got strengthened.
