Hong Kong 1997–a look back at Hong Kong's future

July 1st, 1997–the date on which Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty, an event with a world-wide audience: Did the date symbolize the long-awaited end of Western imperialism in Asia? Or a retreat from freedom? Or, now that it's in the past, was the whole thing just a case of journalistic overkill? It all depends on your point of view. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.