How Chinese Rule Has Changed Hong Kong Since 1997

On July 1, 1997, the Chinese national flag was raised over Hong Kong for the first time, ending 156 years of British rule and beginning an unusual experiment in democracy by Beijing. As President Xi Jinping visits the city for the 20th anniversary, he’s facing new questions about China’s commitment to the handover deal and human rights in general.

Every year the anniversary generates emotional responses from both celebrants of China’s post-colonial resurgence and protesters worried about Hong Kong’s future as a beacon of capitalism, free speech and the rule of law. This year carries special significance because China only promised to leave Hong Kong’s “high degree of autonomy” intact for 50 years. In 2022, when the city’s incoming chief executive Carrie Lam’s term expires, that promise will have more days behind it than ahead of it.