In September 1984, after years of negotiations, the British and the Chinese signed a formal agreement approving the 1997 turnover of the island in exchange for a Chinese pledge to preserve Hong Kong’s capitalist system.

On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong transitioned from British colony to Chinese region. Hong Kongers born in the year of the handover reflect on how their lives and futures have been shaped by that moment. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Twenty-three years ago today – July 1, 1997 – control of Hong Kong passed from Britain to China.

Back in 1997, when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China after more than 150 years, China agreed to maintain its British-implemented government system for 50 years. The Hong Kong Basic Law guarantees the freedoms of the people, such as the right to protest, the right to a free press, freedom of speech and so on.

British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997: British citizenship for British Nationals (Overseas) without Chinese ancestry. The subsequently enacted British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 gives them an entitlement to acquire full British citizenship by making an application to register for that status after 1 July 1997.

A foreigner must have a valid work visa to be able to work in Hong Kong. If you wish to hire a foreigner, you will have to apply for a valid work visa on your employee’s behalf before (s)he can commence employment with you.

Hong Kong calls its citizenship ‘permanent residency’ which you are able to get if you live there for seven years. If you are a Hong KongPermanent Resident with PRC nationality, then you are able to get a Hong Kong passport. This requires that you officially give up any other citizenship to other countries.

The Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China allows foreigners to try to become naturalized citizens if they have relatives who Chinese citizens, have settled in China, or “have other legitimate reasons.” According to the CIA World Factbook; while naturalization is possible, it is extremely difficult.