This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6256298.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
HK marks first decade with China HK marks first decade with China
(about 6 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. Ceremonies have been taking place in Hong Kong to mark the 10th anniversary of its return to China, with Chinese President Hu Jintao guest of honour.
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.
Hu Jintao, on his first visit as Chinese president, reviewed the territory's garrison. Police have scuffled with several dozen pro-democracy supporters who were trying to petition Mr Hu at his hotel.
Beijing also presented a pair of young giant pandas as a gift. Earlier, Mr Hu reviewed the territory's garrison and a gift of two giant pandas was presented to Hong Kong.
Mr Hu will also attend a gala dinner later on Saturday. On Sunday, Mr Hu 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 Bell ringing
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. Activists tried to reach Mr Hu's hotel on Saturday evening in heavy rain, reminiscent of the downpours that greeted the handover ceremonies a decade earlier.
Hong Kong retains much of its British identity Mr Tsang (L) and Mr Hu (R) attend a variety show in Hong KongMore than 100 police officers kept the protesters, who were carrying banners and shouting slogans such as "power to the people", away from the hotel.
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. Mr Hu arrived on Friday on his first visit to Hong Kong as president.
A dragon jamboree will take place, involving 10,000 young people. At a gala dinner on Saturday evening he urged unity between Hong Kong and the mainland.
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. "No matter what kind of doctrine you believe in, or religion, you must, under the flag of loving Hong Kong and loving China, closely unite together," he said.
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. But Mr Hu also urged Hong Kong's leaders to heed the public more, without being specific as to how.
A different kind of show has been provided by another gift from China, our reporter adds. The special administrative region operates under the "one country, two systems" principle.
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. Its post-handover constitution allows for full suffrage to be introduced but does not set any timetable.
His image now stands in a shopping mall. Mr Hu will participate in a bell-ringing on Saturday night to mark the minute of Hong Kong's return.
'Note of cynicism' At the same time, pro-democracy figures will re-enact the protest they held on the Legislative Council balcony in 1997.
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. Table tennis
China's anniversary gift is a runaway crowd-puller To mark the anniversary, districts around Hong Kong have been holding street carnivals and there will be overnight parties in clubs and bars across the city, some of them called Unity, or DisUnity, parties.
He avoided several protests, where demonstrators demanded full democracy for the special administrative region. China's anniversary gift is a runaway crowd-pullerMeanwhile, the pandas Lok Lok and Ying Ying have been drawing large crowds at their new habitat in the Ocean Park amusement centre.
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. Mr Hu played table tennis for the cameras and visited the homes of several Hong Kong people but a planned parachute display was postponed due to bad weather.
The BBC's Jill McGivering, in Hong Kong, says that for Beijing, the return of Hong Kong was a proud moment of national unity. No foreign representatives have been invited to attend the anniversary events, with the focus instead on Hong Kong's closer ties with the mainland.
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.
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.