Lesson 13: The Return of Hong Kong and Macau

"The Concept of "One Country, Two Systems

The issues of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are all historical legacies. It is the strong wish of the entire Chinese nation, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas compatriots and all compatriots from the motherland, to solve these problems and realize the reunification of the motherland.

After entering the new era of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping creatively put forward the great idea of "one country, two systems" from the perspective of safeguarding the fundamental interests of the motherland and the Chinese nation. "One country, two systems" means that under the premise of the unification of the motherland, the main body of the country adheres to the socialist system, while the original capitalist system and way of life in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao remain unchanged for a long time. Peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" is the basic policy to accomplish the great task of unification of the motherland.

The return of Hong Kong and Macau to the motherland

The concept of "one country, two systems" opened the way for Hong Kong and Macau to return to the motherland. After two years of negotiations, the Chinese and British governments signed a joint declaration in December 1984, announcing that the Government of the People's Republic of China would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, and establish the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the direct administration of the Central People's Government. Macau resumed the exercise of sovereignty.

From midnight on June 30 to the early morning of July 1, 1997, the Chinese and British governments held the handover ceremony in Hong Kong as scheduled. At the handover ceremony, President Jiang Zemin solemnly proclaimed that the Chinese team resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China was formally established.

From midnight of December 19 to early morning of December 20, 1999, the Chinese and Portuguese governments held the handover ceremony of Macau in Macau. China formally resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macau, and Macau returned to the embrace of the motherland.

The return of Hong Kong and Macau to the motherland marked an important step on the road to the unification of the motherland, as the Chinese people washed away a century of national shame.（404words）