Hong Kong Handover 1997 - Government House

[Laganini76]

The Britons are either crazy or real cowards(btw i have nothing against the Britons)..........they handed over one of the most modern cities(a city they built) to the communists without firing a single bullet. The policy of "scorched earth" could have been a good answer to the regime in Beijing...........now it´s too late for that

[TheSmithersy]

@Laganini76: It's because they care about the people that they wouldn't go smashing up the city before handing the colony over.

[laichunkiu]

7:10 they will come back.

[DavBlc7]

@laichunkiu Very highly unlikely cos David Cameron said Britain need China for trade and economics and he wanted good relationship between Britain and China to continue and that mean no actions over Hong Kong.

British government are coward leaving Hong Kong to die! China will keep Hong Kong for very long time because Chinese considers Hong Kong as true long time Chinese sovereignty over HK not Britain's.

Chinese sees this as liberation of Hong Kong from imperialist thieving British yoke!

[Lionels7newzealand]

THEY PLAYED GOD SVAE THE QUEEN AT THE END YAY!

[Lionels7newzealand]

disgarceful....

[fairplay381]

Is Hong Kong Dying? Seems like it. We are NOT moving forward but backward. We do not have a leader like Chris Patten anymore.

[HalisIstanbullu]

I'm so glad I got to visit Hong Kong while it was still British. I'll never go back now. It still doesn't feel quite right, doesn't it? I mean, handing a territory and its people over from being ruled by a mother country democratically governed and committed to human rights, to a corrupt, repressive, single-party dictatorship.

[harmonyordie]

@HalisIstanbullu

The British didn't seem to care about human rights when they invaded China and took HK away ╮(╯▽╰)╭

[HalisIstanbullu]

@harmonyordie That was 160 years ago. A lot has changed since then. I'm talking about events that have occurred in living memory. I'd sooner wish British rule on anyone because I know British rule means rule of law, democracy, protection and guarantee of human rights, and open and transparent government. The PRC cannot provide any of these.

[daveduvw]

@HalisIstanbullu

funny!

I also wish Danes or Finns rule on you,since their governments are much better. Britain should become a colony of the Danes,then you will enjoy better law, better democracy, better protection and better guarantee of human rights...

[GabBling]

@HalisIstanbullu Ye will its better than fucking Gibraltar which you guys still haven't given back after 500 years

[HalisIstanbullu]

@GabBling What was the point of that?

[ric66521]

I was 2 at that time... but I still miss the good old days

[hkgstefan]

Highland Cathedral

[bbbqqqxxxddd]

2:01,what song is this?

[chiuedna]

It's as though the sky is crying for Hong Kong :(

[laurencelikestopgun]

That's was such a sad say, I was only ten at time but I miss the British HK days

[u2110234]

The city is dying ....u know?

[Edwardjsa]

I want an independent Hong Kong

[Aircraft0816]

What is the name of the last song that was played during the last 2 minutes?

[fairplay381]

@Aircraft0816 Auld Lang Syne 

[pakon81]

The end of a great Britsh era Hong Kong which marks the point into a decade and a half which turned Hong Kong into a China zombie.

[tyan888]

I've been wondering what's the title of the music performed around duration 2:10min. they're awe inspiring.

[kanenkitten]

@tyan888: It's called Highland Cathedral.

[tyan888]

@kanenkitten Thank you!

[PT8475]

@tyan888 Highland Cathedral.

[englishsteve88]

does anyone know the song played by the pipers?

[DBPHuguenot]

@englishsteve88

Yes Sir. Sunset naturally, and Highland Cathedral. Those are the Royal HK Police. Two things about this moment in history. They are really playing their hearts out, I think as a kind of defiance. Notice Chris Patten's response at 2:08. It's a tune he likes, but I think he sensed the feeling of the HK people present. It was quite a sad day.

[hkshit1]

@DBPHuguenot The title of bugle sound is called "LAST POST" am I correct ?

[DBPHuguenot]

@hkshit1

Yes, the bugle call is Last Post. It might be considered "Last Post and Colours" as it was followed by an anthem. RHKP played Highland Cathedral more powerfully than usual, almost defiantly. A soldier's message, this marked "Personal: For The Governor."

Staff coded the very last HKG telex, to be sent at midnight HK time: I have relinquished the administration of this government. God Save the Queen. PATTEN

One can imagine hearing that Last Post in the background.

[hkshit1]

@DBPHuguenot Thankyou for your very clearly explanation, Sir !

[shyamhk]

@englishsteve88 Highland Cathedral

[e0o9kii]

Britain should have just bought Hong Kong from the Chinese.

[TheSmithersy]

@e0o9kii: Well we did own Hong Kong Island and Kowloon outright. Not sure why we gave them all of it.

[e0o9kii]

@TheSmithersy I read that the UK had a 99 year lease with China so HK was simply borrowed from the 'Qing Dynasty of China' in 1841.

Though since the 'Qing Dinasty' ended in 1912 (who the UK had the treaty with) and was replaced by the 'Republic of China' in 1912 and by 1949 China was divided into 2 separate countries 'Peoples Republic of China' (China) and 'Republic of China' (Taiwan), UK did not have the HK treaty with either PRC or ROC so the UK may have been legal owner of HK by 1912.

[DBPHuguenot]

@e0o9kii We know all of this. Patten in his departure speech even recognised the darker acts of the UK in times well past, but there was no shortage of guilt there. You can't pass this event as a mere lease hand-off. Over time Hong Kong Chinese became a very special people, full of audacity and industry, yet well aware the British Rule permitted their success. They became THE shining star for all of South Asia, and in doing so somehow melded British values with a Chinese character.

[mindawareness]

@e0o9kii you are right in a way.but, money count.and british was no match for the might PLA army.british army not able to win any war with communist china.and so british gave up hong kong the last british empire!!!

[TheSmithersy]

@mindawareness: That wasn't the last colony. We still have 16 under our control. The Empire is still around.

[xr6lad]

@TheSmithersy

Because with all the dams and new airport it would have been pretty impossible to 'hold' HK if they gave the New Territories back. Besides, this is an age in which the western democracies want to suck up to a authoritarian undemocratic government because of money. Funny they 'just' handed back an entire people to what amounts to a communist dictatorship on some 'vague' promise they would keep HK as it is. Echo's of Munich 1939....and giving the Czechs to Hitler...

[truongyashin]

It's like a rent contract, British Hongkong was over. I see HK's turning closer to China.

It may be sad but Hongkong had just returned to its truth nation, CHINA!!!

God bless the queen!

God bless Hongkong!

[1yipwah]

這是香港的歷史片段，不過英國人可能會問前人為什麼只定香港租借­99年，如果可以的話，999年才是嘛，不過歷史是沒有如果的！­

[cheukwils]

put aside all the politics on whether u like the current hk government or the hk under british-rule. JUST LOOK AT 3:49 !!!

[GEESUS498]

3:49 - 4:08 Chris Patten's daughters are pretty hot :)

[DBPHuguenot]

@GEESUS498 About the Patten daughters, given the event and their father's mood, the wearing of white would not be missed by any Chinese there. But really, "hot" was not the most intelligent thing you could say.

[GEESUS498]

@DBPHuguenot Some people take life (and comments on youtube) too seriously.

[Yoshuayovel]

@GEESUS498 Freaking yeah! I love babes from British Isles!

[Edwardjsa]

until now, no C.S. have got any kind of greater support from the masses than Chris.

[Hewleqtt]

Damn, made me cry :((

[mcaddicts]

It makes me sick just knowing that the commies are living in our queens house in hong kong, just wrong, commies go home!

[DBPHuguenot]

A sad moment in history managed as only the British can. Notice Governor Patten's reaction to the choice of "Highland Cathedral" for the "Last Post and Colours." Truly remarkable.

[Yoshuayovel]

7:05 Three circles: They will return and resume the sovereignty over HK.

[Meadic]

ONE of the BEST HKG Governors......GREAT man ***