Hong Kong

Great Britain and the People's Republic of China agreed on terms for the return of Hong Kong to China when the 99-year lease to portions of Hong Kong was to expire in 1997. Under the agreement, Hong Kong was to maintain its capitalist system after its return to Chinese control..

The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China, referred to as "the Handover" internationally, was the result of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, a treaty signed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang. The handover marked the end of British rule and took place on July 1, 1997.

In the 19th century, Hong Kong was ceded to the British Empire after the First and Second Opium Wars in a series of agreements: Hong Kong Island after the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, Kowloon Peninsula after the Second Convention of Peking in 1860, and later the 99-year lease of the New Territories was agreed upon in the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory in 1898.

As the expiration of the 99-year lease approached, the British government engaged in negotiations with the Chinese government on the future of Hong Kong, leading to the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. This treaty stipulated that Hong Kong would be returned to China in 1997 under the principle of "one country, two systems". This framework was proposed by Deng Xiaoping and intended to ensure that Hong Kong would retain its capitalist economic system and a degree of political autonomy, separate from mainland China's socialist system, for 50 years after the handover, i.e., until 2047.

The Basic Law of Hong Kong, essentially the region's mini-constitution, was drafted to enshrine this principle. It guarantees freedoms and rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to a fair trial, which are not available in mainland China.

The Handover was a significant event as it marked the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of a unique social, political, and economic experiment under the "one country, two systems" framework. In the years since 1997, there have been ongoing challenges and tensions in the relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland Chinese government, particularly relating to issues around democratic freedoms and autonomy.

acy has significantly influenced Pakistani politics, with his daughter Benazir Bhutto later serving as Prime Minister.