Hong Kong security lawHong Kong lets 40th anniversary of Sino-British declaration pass quietly
National security overrides pact's promised freedoms; advocates warn of fading interest
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, seated, left, and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, seated, right, sign the accord that handed Hong Kong back to China in Beijing on Dec. 19, 1984. © Getty Images
KENJI KAWASE, Nikkei Asia chief business news correspondent
December 19, 2024 16:21 JST
HONG KONG -- Thursday marks the 40th anniversary of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the agreement that paved the way for the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty. Local authorities are letting the milestone pass without fanfare, however, reflecting the city's drastic political changes.