- Title: A timeline of Hong Kong since its 1997 handover to China
- Date: 21st June 2017
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - MAY 24, 1998) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF CANDIDATE VOLUNTEERS HANDING OUT LEAFLETS ON STREET OFFICIAL PROMOTIONAL SIGNS FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS TUNG DROPPING BALLOT INTO BOX HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - MAY 25, 1998) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION SIGN / INTERIOR OF CENTRAL COUNTING STATION VOTE-COUNTING IN PROGRESS ELECTORAL OFFICIALS COUNTING VOTES DEMOCRAT LAU CHIN-SHEK BEING CONGRATULATED BY SUPPORTERS AFTER WINNING SEAT SUPPORTERS CHEERING FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY WIN Hong Kong residents headed to the polls in May 1998, where they voted in the city's first elections for its legislature under Chinese rule. Democrats celebrated a strong victory, winning as many as 14 seats in the Legislative Council. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - MARCH 18, 2003) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT HOSPITAL WEARING MASKS HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - MARCH 26, 2003) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STUDENTS WEARING MASKS IN PLAYGROUND, WAITING TO GO UP TO CLASSROOM VARIOUS OF STUDENTS WEARING MASKS IN CLASSROOM MAN BUYING FACE MASKS PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN MARKET In 2003, a deadly strain of pneumonia spread quickly around the globe, severely impacting Hong Kong. Nearly 300 deaths were recorded out of 1755 cases. People across the city wore face masks to try and prevent the spread of the disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). There have been no reported cases of SARS worldwide since 2004. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JULY 1, 2003) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING AGAINST PLANNED ANTI-SUBVERSION LAW POLICE MONITORING PROTEST VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "TUNG RETIRE" In 2003, an anti-subversion law was proposed by the government of Tung Chee-hwa. On July 1, thousands of protesters took to the streets to denounce the city's law. Brandishing banners, umbrellas and fans, many of the people dressed in black to mourn what they said was the demise of rights and freedom in one of the world's key financial centres. Critics of the law, commonly known in Hong Kong as "Article 23" said it posed the biggest threat to basic rights in the former British colony. The bill was shelved after the demonstration.
- Embargoed: 5th July 2017 02:50
- Keywords: Hong Kong Handover timeline politics election
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0036M94APX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:On July 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend ceremonial events in Hong Kong to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover from British rule.
He is expected to perform the swearing-in of the territory's next Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam.
Lam was elected in March this year by a 1,200-strong committee, stacked mostly with Beijing loyalists, to become the city's first female leader. She has vowed to 'heal social divisions' at a time when tensions with China are on the rise.
As the fourth chief executive since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule 20 years ago, Lam will need to restore the public's faith in the "one country, two systems" formula that promises extensive autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland.
That principle has come under strain with what many residents see as creeping interference by China in the financial hub's legal affairs and freedom of speech, not least with the shadowy detention of five Hong Kong booksellers in late 2015 and Chinese-born billionaire Xiao Jianhua in January.
The city will be under heavy security for the handover anniversary, but that's not likely to deter the thousands of protesters expected to march in the annual anti-government protest. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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