CPC's Centennial Story Intertwined with HK | Reform and opening-up: A new chapter of HK returning to motherland

After the time of war and turmoil, China finally entered a new chapter of revival and development in 1978. At the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China decided to shift the focus of the CPC and the country to socialist modernization, stepping onto the new path of reform and opening up.

Many patriotic HK people actively responded to the call of the country and promoted the economic development of the Mainland in the wave of reform and opening up.

In 1982, the issue of HK's future and handover was on the agenda. The then British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, insisted that the three unequal treaties related to HK should remain valid. In response, the student unions of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic issued a joint letter stating that HK belongs to China. As the president of the Student Union of HKU, Fung Wai-kwong was invited to join a delegation to Beijing, where he met Mr. Deng Xiaoping and heard his words of encouragement and enlightenment. Later, he also expressed his views on the Basic Law on behalf of the academic community.

The Basic Law, which enshrines the principles of "one country, two systems" and "HK people governing HK", was finally passed despite all sorts of difficulties. On July 1, 1997, the Five-star Red Flag was finally raised in HK again. HK has since embarked on a new journey of prosperity as it boarded on the high speed train of development of the country .

DotDotNews has rolled out a special program called "CPC's Centennial Story Intertwined with HK." In each episode, we will share the historical stories between HK and the CPC as well as the important moments of HK's participation in the development of the country. Stay tuned for more to come!