Crowds gather at the stroke of midnight beneath umbrellas to witness the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), 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. From the on the roof of Ocean Terminal shopping mall, the skyline is filled with fireworks but the glowing red comes from giant advertising lettering behind the viewer on the top floor of the building which protrudes out into Hong Kong harbour from the Kowloon side of the territory. Hong Kong was once known as 'fragrant harbour' (or Heung Keung) because of the smell of transported sandal wood.
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