What had happened to Hong Kong?

On 1 July 1997, the United Kingdom transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong to China, marking the end of 156 years of British colonial rule. This event, commonly known as the "handover" or "回归" (Return), marked a significant change in Hong Kong's history and political status.

Since then, Hong Kong has been a Special Administrative Region (SAR) within the People's Republic of China, enjoying a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" principle. While China manages the city's defense and foreign affairs, Hong Kong maintains its own legal, economic, and social systems, as well as considerable freedoms and rights not seen in mainland China.