Changes of Hong Kong in the Past 20 Years

Changes of Hong Kong in the Past 20 Years

? Change and constancy are relative. The world is changing rapidly, some? The same? We must persist, while others should keep up with the times and actively seek? Change? . The key is that Hong Kong is getting better and better, and this is the most important thing. ? This was said by Zhou Fang, chief research director of the Hong Kong Research Center for One Country, Two Systems. Let's see what you think of the changes in Hong Kong in the past 20 years.

On July 1 20, the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return, the China government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. 20 years, with? One country, two systems? With the successful implementation of the great concept and the full implementation of the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has made unprecedented achievements in various fields. As a beautiful pearl in the embrace of the motherland, Hong Kong is increasingly shining brilliantly.

It will be the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return in half a month. What has changed and what hasn't? With what? The same? What kind of development track can you see in Hong Kong?

On an ordinary Wednesday in late May, Hong Kong ushered in the strongest rainstorm this year. In the evening, it is still raining, but the Happy Valley Racecourse in the south-central part of Wan Chai District is full of excitement. Every Wednesday night is horse racing day. Hong Kong local horse fans and tourists from all over the world gather.

At 7 pm 15, the game starts on time. When the horse race galloped, the audience cheered in the rain. Horse racing is still one of Hong Kong people's favorite recreational activities.

? Run by horse, fry by stock, dance by dance? Deng Xiaoping described it like this before the reunification? One country, two systems? This is actually a promise made by the central government that Hong Kong's political and economic systems will remain unchanged for 50 years. Tung Chee-hwa, the first chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that the promise of returning to China for 20 years has not changed. The normal life and habits of Hong Kong people have not changed. what has changed? There are many more people who speak Mandarin, and everyone has begun to understand this country and have more contacts. Especially after contact and economic interaction, Hong Kong's economy used to rely more on the mainland through trade with the United States and Europe. These are great changes. ?

Li Xiuheng immigrated to Hong Kong from the mainland with his parents in the 1960s and 1970s, and started his business in the 1980s, becoming one of the first Hong Kong businessmen to invest and build factories in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Li Xiuheng, who had no choice but to move her factory to Hong Kong, did not expect that it was this kind of industrial transfer that won her opportunities for future development. Today, Li Xiuheng is already a billionaire Hong Kong? Watch the king? .

When talking about the economic and trade development between Hong Kong and the Mainland, Li Xiuheng said that the integration of the two has never changed in the past 20 years, but the relationship between the two has changed. After the reunification, with the strong economic strength of the country, how can Hong Kong's economic development conform to the development of the country? Our functions have changed. It used to be an investment, but now it has many functions. Hong Kong should play the role of a financial, trade and logistics center. ?

Some people say that the GDP of Hong Kong 1997 is equivalent to more than 18% in the Mainland, but now it is only equivalent to about 3%. Hong Kong's advantages no longer exist, and its economic status is greatly reduced. Chen Maobo, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, reported a series of data and rankings to reporters: from 1997 to 20 16, Hong Kong's GDP increased from 1.37 trillion Hong Kong dollars to 2.49 trillion Hong Kong dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 3.2%, ranking among the best in developed economies. Hong Kong continues to maintain its position as an international financial, trade and shipping center, and has been rated as the freest economy in the world for 23 consecutive years. In the annual report on world competitiveness published by the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland in recent two years, Hong Kong ranks first in the world. Chen Maobo said: Hong Kong's position and role in national development have not changed. Due to historical reasons, Hong Kong has a lot of experience in dealing with the international community, and our legal system is consistent with them. Therefore, we can definitely play the role of risk management for mainland enterprises to go global. We now advocate taking Hong Kong as the dispute resolution center, because this is the place in the world where Chinese can be spoken in common law. ?

In the 20 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the common law system has been maintained because of the provisions of the Basic Law, which has guaranteed the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong by the Constitution and enhanced the confidence of the international community in doing business in Hong Kong.

Yuan Guoqiang, Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, said: They told me that if they invest in Asia, Hong Kong will definitely be the first place they think of. One of the reasons is our legal system. In the past 20 years, the common law in Hong Kong has not only been well continued, but also developed healthily and positively. Before the reunification, the cases of Hong Kong courts were rarely used in other common law countries, but after the reunification, the cases decided by the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal became important cases in common law countries in many fields. ?

The legal system in Hong Kong has remained basically unchanged, but the rule of law environment has been greatly improved. According to the data released by the World Bank, where is Hong Kong? World governance indicators? Research? Rule of law indicators? Significant progress has been made, from 1996 ranking more than 60 in the world to 20 105 ranking 1 1.

1999, 25-year-old Li Huiqiong campaigned to become the youngest female District Councillor in Hong Kong at that time. Today, in her early forties, she is the youngest and only female chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), the largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and the largest political organization in Hong Kong. Li Huiqiong said that he witnessed and experienced the most democratic era in Hong Kong. With the reunification and the promulgation of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has experienced the most democratic era in 20 years. In the past, the Governor was appointed by the Queen of England, but now the Chief Executive is elected. In the past, the principal officials were mainly Hong Kong people. In the past, the Legislative Council was basically appointed, but now it is elected by the people. ?

Despite the continuous illegal activities in Hong Kong in recent years? Occupy central? Andrew Leung, chairman of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, firmly believes that the spirit of the rule of law has not been lost. Occupy China is a manifestation of young people's dissatisfaction with society, and some political parties use it. They believe that lofty ideas can violate the law. The key to Hong Kong's success is the rule of law, which is the core value of Hong Kong. ?

Speaking of 20 years of Hong Kong's return? Change? With what? The same? Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, summed it up like this: What people were worried about was that nothing had changed, most of what should have changed, and everyone wanted to change. what has changed? Most importantly, the legal status of Hong Kong has changed, from a region under British colonial rule to a local administrative region of People's Republic of China (PRC) with a high degree of autonomy. What has changed is that Hong Kong people are truly masters of their own affairs and enjoy unprecedented democratic rights and broader freedoms. What has changed is Hong Kong's new infrastructure, new urban outlook and visible or invisible progress in various social undertakings. What has changed is that Hong Kong has closer ties with the Mainland and has gained more direct, comprehensive and powerful support from the country's development. What has changed is that Hong Kong's foreign exchanges have been expanding and its international influence has been further enhanced.

Stability and prosperity of Hong Kong after its return to China

1At 0: 00 on July, 1997, the regional flags of National Flag of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were raised in Hong Kong. After a hundred years of vicissitudes, Hong Kong has returned to the embrace of the motherland, and the China government has resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

From 1982, People's Republic of China (PRC) began negotiations with the British government on the future of Hong Kong, and finally signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, deciding that from 1 July 19971day, People's Republic of China (PRC) will establish the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which will be responsible for Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula south of Boundary Street.

Transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong

The handover ceremony of Hong Kong's sovereignty was officially held at 0: 30 on June 30, 1997 in the auditorium of the new wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, marking the official resumption of China's administration of Hong Kong.

Lower the British flag and the British Hong Kong flag, and raise the national flag and regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

1 On the eve of 0: 00 on July 0, 2000, the British flag and the British flag of Hong Kong slowly lowered the right flagpole, and at the same time played the British national anthem "God Save the Queen", symbolizing the official end of the British colonial era in Hong Kong.

After zero, the flag of China and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were raised on the left flagpole, and March of the Volunteers, the national anthem of China, was played. At the ceremony, Charles and Jiang Zemin delivered speeches successively.

The transfer of sovereignty is an important page in the history of Hong Kong, which has a far-reaching impact on Hong Kong. Before the transfer of sovereignty, some Hong Kong people's fear of the Chinese mainland regime brought about a wave of emigration, which once caused an outflow of talents and capital.

On the other hand, the transfer of sovereignty has accelerated the economic and social integration of Chinese mainland and Hongkong. The handover of power in Hong Kong also marks the most glorious time in Britain since the Victorian era? Empire when the sun never sets? The end of the era.

The transfer of sovereignty has also brought many changes to Hong Kong itself. After 1 July 19971,all government agencies changed to fly the regional flags of National Flag of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II has disappeared from coins, stamps and government offices, but all the banknotes and coins before the transfer of power are still in circulation and are collected by a large number of citizens? The queen's head? Currency shortage caused by coins; Are stamps printed? China and Hongkong? .

All government agencies and organizations have been removed? Royal? For example, the Royal Hong Kong Police and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, only Real royal hong kong yacht club kept its original name.

People's Republic of China (PRC) SAR was established.

Unification is not just a matter of changing a national flag or a regional flag, nor is it just a matter of changing some names. It also needs a mental journey and recognition of the country and the nation, and this change first occurs in the legal system.

When talking about the implementation of the Basic Law in Hong Kong on June 10, Elsie Leung, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress and former Secretary of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Government, said? 1 July, 19971day, we set off a new prelude to the constitution and entered a new milestone in the history of law under the principle that the original laws remain unchanged. ?

The Historical Significance of the Return of Hong Kong

Significance to China:

1. is conducive to promoting the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland and promoting China's socialist modernization;

2. It is conducive to promoting the prosperity, stability and development of Hong Kong. Over the past decade or so since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, under the principles of one country, two systems, Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy, the development of Hong Kong has become increasingly prosperous.

The return of Hong Kong is a successful practice of the great concept of "one country, two systems". The practice of Hong Kong's return proves that Deng Xiaoping's policy is wise and correct. At the same time, it provided a practical model for the settlement of the Macao issue and the return of Macao, and ultimately left valuable wealth for the settlement of the Taiwan Province issue and the complete reunification of China.

Significance to foreign countries:

The smooth return of Hong Kong is not only a powerful counterattack against western powers, but also the successful practice of Hong Kong's return provides an example for many countries and regions in the world to solve similar problems, which is of great significance to the development of world politics.

Hong Kong's prosperity after its return to China.

? One country, two systems? Its purpose is national reunification, not ideological merger. China's 5,000-year history has always pursued the unification of the Chinese world. ? One country, two systems? Originally conceived to solve the problem of Taiwan Province Province.

Are you online? One country, two systems? In contrast, Hong Kong's capitalist system and lifestyle have not changed, with horses running and jumping. If there is any difference, the most obvious difference is that the former governor was airborne by the British, and the current chief executive is chosen by the Hong Kong people themselves. Hong Kong during the British-Hong Kong period? Freedom, no democracy? After the reunification, Hong Kong people really have democracy and can manage themselves.

Hong Kong's position as a world financial center has also been greatly improved. Mainland tourists go to Hong Kong for free travel, mainland enterprises go public in Hong Kong, and people do business offshore. These are all issues of great concern to the Hong Kong economy.

According to the data released by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, by the end of 20 16, there were 95 1 companies listed in Hong Kong, accounting for 5 1% of listed companies in Hong Kong, with a market value of about 62%. Opening on 20 14? Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect? By the end of 20 16, the cumulative turnover of Shanghai Stock Connect was 65,438 yuan +0.64 trillion yuan, and that of Hong Kong Stock Connect was 800 billion Hong Kong dollars.

At present, Hong Kong is the largest offshore RMB market. In 20 16, the daily average settlement of RMB real-time payment system in Hong Kong reached 900 billion yuan.

After 20 12, Hong Kong regained the first place in the world's most competitive economy. Economically, although the proportion of Hong Kong in the total national economy has declined, its achievements are still considerable, especially the per capita GDP exceeds 40,000 US dollars.

According to statistics, in 20 16, Hong Kong's GDP reached HK$ 2,402.5 billion, with a per capita GDP of HK$ 329,000. This figure is 1 18% and 85% higher than that before the return of Hong Kong.

After the return of Hong Kong, Hong Kong's economy has developed rapidly and steadily, people's lives have been happier, and cultural and economic exchanges between the two places have been deepening. With the efforts of the people of Hong Kong and the support of the country, Hong Kong's international status has been continuously improved and it has become a paradise for investors at home and abroad. Over the past decade or so, the unemployment rate in Hong Kong has been declining and the per capita income has been rising, and Hong Kong people have really lived a happy life.

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