Timeline

1984: Sino-British Joint Declaration is signed in Beijing, stating that the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong (including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories) from July 1, 1997.

1990: Basic Law of Hong Kong is formally promulgated by the National People's Congress, together with the design of the flag and emblem of the SAR.

1996: Tung Chee-hwa is appointed as first chief executive of the HKSASR.

July 1, 1997: China officially resumes exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

1998: Hong Kong overcomes the Asian financial crisis.

2003: Hong Kong overcomes SARS epidemic.

2004: Hong Kong joins the pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Economic Cooperation Plan, a milestone of economic integration with the mainland.

2007: Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is appointed as chief executive of the HKSAR.

2009: Hong Kong successfully holds the fifth East Asian Games.

2011: Hong Kong is included in the country's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), under an independent chapter, together with Macao SAR, for the first time.

China Daily

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page67)