Large corporate banners about the future of Hong Kong hang over the entrance of the HSBC bank in Central, the day after the Handover of sovereignty from Britain to China, on 30th June 1997, in Hong Kong, China. Midnight signified the end of British rule, and the transfer of legal and financial authority back to China. Hong Kong was once known as 'fragrant harbour' (or Heung Keung) because of the smell of transported sandal wood.
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