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HK marks first decade with China | HK marks first decade with China |
(about 2 hours later) | |
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. | 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 at midnight on 30 June 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule amid anxiety over the fate of local democracy. | 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. |
Hu Jintao, on his first visit as Chinese president, reviewed the territory's garrison. | Hu Jintao, on his first visit as Chinese president, reviewed the territory's garrison. |
Beijing also presented a pair of young giant pandas as a gift. | Beijing also presented a pair of young giant pandas as a gift. |
Mr Hu will also attend a gala dinner later on Saturday. | Mr Hu will also attend a gala dinner later on Saturday. |
On Sunday, he will oversee the swearing-in of Chief Executive Donald Tsang's new cabinet. | 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. | But he is set to leave the territory before a pro-democracy march on Sunday afternoon. |
Fireworks and Deng | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | His image now stands in a shopping mall. |
'Note of cynicism' | '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. |
China's anniversary gift is a runaway crowd-puller | |
He avoided several protests, where demonstrators demanded full democracy for the special administrative region. | 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 promises of democracy. | 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. |