On 19 December 1984, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration in Beijing, charting a momentous course for Hong Kong's future.
The agreement stipulated that the United Kingdom would return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997, under a framework termed "one country, two systems," which would allow the territory to maintain its capitalist economy, legal system, and freedoms for 50 years after the handover.
This landmark accord symbolised a delicate balance between China's sovereignty and the preservation of Hong Kong's unique socio-economic identity, marking a pivotal chapter in international diplomacy.
