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Hong Kong to commemorate handover HK marks first decade with China
(about 7 hours later)
Residents in Hong Kong are set for a weekend of events marking the 10th anniversary of the territory's handover from Britain to China. A troop parade and a giant panda presentation have kicked off events marking 10 years since Hong Kong's handover from the UK to China.
Hong Kong was returned to China at midnight on 30 June 1997, after more than 150 years of British rule. Hong Kong was returned at midnight on 30 June 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule amid anxiety over the fate of local democracy.
Chinese President Hu Jintao is spending three days in the territory, his first visit since becoming president. Hu Jintao, on his first visit as Chinese president, reviewed the territory's garrison.
He will attend a gala dinner and on Sunday oversee the swearing in of Chief Executive Donald Tsang's new cabinet. Beijing also presented a pair of young giant pandas as a gift.
But he is set to leave before a pro-democracy march takes place on Sunday afternoon, returning to Beijing before it begins. Mr Hu will also attend a gala dinner later on Saturday.
'Autonomy' On Sunday, he will oversee the swearing-in of Chief Executive Donald Tsang's new cabinet.
But he is set to leave the territory before a pro-democracy march on Sunday afternoon.
Fireworks and Deng
The pandas are drawing large crowds at their new habitat in the Ocean Park amusement centre, the BBC's Vaudine England reports from the territory.
Hong Kong retains much of its British identity
Fireworks will explode over the harbour just after dark, and a gala variety show is to be held at Hong Kong's Convention Centre, which was built just in time for the actual handover ceremony 10 years ago.
A dragon jamboree will take place, involving 10,000 young people.
Districts around the territory are holding street carnivals and there will be overnight parties in clubs and bars across the city, some of them called Unity, or DisUnity, parties.
Mr Hu has already played table tennis for the cameras and visited the homes of several Hong Kong people but a planned parachute display has been postponed due to bad weather.
A different kind of show has been provided by another gift from China, our reporter adds.
It is a waxworks statue of the late Deng Xiao-ping, the leader who oversaw the transition of Hong Kong from British colony to Chinese territory.
His image now stands in a shopping mall.
'Note of cynicism'
Arriving on Friday, Mr Hu praised the people of Hong Kong for their hard work and said he had every confidence in the region's future.Arriving on Friday, Mr Hu praised the people of Hong Kong for their hard work and said he had every confidence in the region's future.
"In the past 10 years under the 'one country, two systems' principles Hong Kong people ruled Hong Kong and Hong Kong enjoyed a high degree of autonomy," he said. Hu Jintao wore a green Mao suit for the troop review
Mr Hu is spending three days in Hong Kong for the anniversary He avoided several protests, where demonstrators demanded full democracy for the special administrative region.
"The central government and Chinese citizens have supported the Hong Kong government and helped Hong Kong to overcome all difficulties."
He later played ping pong with young athletes and visited some local families before attending a dinner with Mr Tsang.
But he avoided several protests, where demonstrators demanded full democracy for the special administrative region.
At one demonstration, pro-democracy lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung burned a portrait of Mr Hu and called for the release of political prisoners in China.At one demonstration, pro-democracy lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung burned a portrait of Mr Hu and called for the release of political prisoners in China.
The BBC's Jill McGivering, in Hong Kong, says that for Beijing, the return of Hong Kong was a proud moment of national unity.The BBC's Jill McGivering, in Hong Kong, says that for Beijing, the return of Hong Kong was a proud moment of national unity.
It is now eager to show the world that the political experiment of "one country, two systems" has been a success.It is now eager to show the world that the political experiment of "one country, two systems" has been a success.
No foreign representatives were invited to attend the anniversary events, with the focus instead on Hong Kong's closer ties with the mainland.No foreign representatives were invited to attend the anniversary events, with the focus instead on Hong Kong's closer ties with the mainland.
After some tough years of economic crisis, the economy is doing well. Hong Kong's way of life has not really changed and key institutions are still independent and accountable.After some tough years of economic crisis, the economy is doing well. Hong Kong's way of life has not really changed and key institutions are still independent and accountable.
Many citizens increasingly describe themselves as Chinese, as well as Hong Kong people.Many citizens increasingly describe themselves as Chinese, as well as Hong Kong people.
But they have retained a note of cynicism when it comes to politics, says our correspondent, with Hong Kong yet to see much progress on the promise of democracy in the Sino-British agreement ending 156 years of British rule. But they have retained a note of cynicism when it comes to politics, says our correspondent, with Hong Kong yet to see much progress on promises of democracy.