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How did the 1984 Sino-British agreement address the transfer of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty?
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A larger-than-life Ramses II towering over his prisoners and clutching them by the hair. Limestone bas-relief from Memphis, Egypt, 1290ā24 bce; in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration was a landmark diplomatic agreement that resolved the status of Hong Kong following the approaching expiration of the 99-year lease on the New Territories.12
The agreement addressed the transfer of sovereignty through the following key provisions:
- Return of Territory: It stipulated that the entirety of Hong Kongācomprising Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territoriesāwould be returned to the Peopleās Republic of China on July 1, 1997.32
- One Country, Two Systems: The agreement established the principle of "one country, two systems," under which Hong Kong would become a Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).13
- Autonomy and Continuity: China pledged that Hong Kong would maintain a high degree of autonomy, excluding matters of foreign policy and defense, for 50 years after the handover. Furthermore, the agreement guaranteed that the region's capitalist economic system and existing social lifestyle would remain unchanged during this period.13
This framework was later codified in the Basic Law, which took effect upon the formal transfer of sovereignty.12