Editor’s note: Since its establishment in 1997, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has been a witness, facilitator and contributor to the city’s dazzling economic growth, growing international influence, and stronger integration with the Chinese mainland. Let’s stroll down memory lane with CDHK by revisiting select front pages — the snapshots of historic moments — to mark with CDHK the days of joy, happiness and sadness.
Oct 6, 1997 Debut
By launching its Hong Kong edition on Oct 6, 1997, China Daily — China’s only national English-language newspaper — officially debuted in the city, making it the first and only national newspaper approved to publish a local edition in the city after it returned to the motherland in 1997.
Then-president Jiang Zemin, thenpremier Li Peng, and the then-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Qiao Shi, expressed their blessings to CDHK. Jiang called on the newspaper to “carry out the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ to serve Hong Kong readers”.
Oct 9, 1997 Blueprint
Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, delivered his maiden policy address on Oct 9, 1997, just over three months after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established.
In this Policy Address, he said Hong Kong’s long-term stability and prosperity were “closely linked” with the Chinese mainland and also addressed various aspects of residents’ concerns, such as economic projects, housing, elderly care, and education. He pledged that the government would increase the housing supply to at least 85 000 flats a year, known as the “85,000 policy,” receiving widespread attention and discussion in Hong Kong. Tung’s address was called the first blueprint of Hong Kong for the 21st century by some scholars and received a lot of praise from the media.