On July 1, 1997, Britain reached the end of its 99 year lease of Hong Kong and her territories at midnight, and the city was returned to Beijing - with the promise there would be autonomy for 50 years. In the time Hong Kong was a British colony - between 1841 and 1997 - the city experienced relative political peace and calm. Tension and apprehension mounted at the approach of 1997 as Hongkongers were not sure what it might mean when Hong Kong becomes a part of China again. 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the handover, and celebrations have been taking place all year in honour of Hong Kong's 20-year-old status as a special administrative region of China.