In 1842, as required by the Treaty of Nanjing, the Qing government formally ceded China's Hong Kong Island to the UK.
In 1860, also under the reign of Qing government, the Beijing Treaty was signed and part of Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to the UK.
On July 1st, 1997, the People's Republic of China recovered the sovereignty over Hong Kong and applied the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. The Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) was established, and the PLA Hong Kong Garrison took over the defense duties of HKSAR.
On July 1st, 2022, HKSAR embraces its sixth chief executive John Lee (Lee Ka-chiu), and celebrates its 25th anniversary of return to the motherland.
With the solid support of the motherland, Hong Kong has defused risks, weathered challenges and maintained prosperity and stability over the past 25 years, demonstrating that the "one country, two systems" principle has stood the test of practice and time. And the PLA Hong Kong Garrison will never forget the mission entrusted by the country and the people, that is, to be the guardian of Hong Kong.
