Colonial influence still felt: chief executive-elect

In the 15 years since Hong Kong returned to China, its residents have developed an increasing sense of "one country". However, chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying said it will take a long time before remnants of colonial influence disappear entirely.

Since the handover in 1997, about 300,000 Hong Kong residents have gone to work on the mainland, Leung said, citing incomplete statistics. "It is a considerable number, given the total working population in Hong Kong is 3.7 million," he said.

However, many small things in daily life show that the influence of colonial governance can still be seen in the special administrative region.