Ready to love the people of Hong Kong

Britain Wins Assurance Over Chinese Troops

British officials said Foreign Secretary Robin Cook won this pledge in a 45-minute meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen yesterday.

Both Mr Cook and outgoing Governor Chris Patten had criticised China for its plans to send 4,000 soldiers with armoured personell carriers, ships and helicopters into Hong Kong just six hours after the colony's return to Chinese rule. The Foreign Secretary had called the size and equipment of the force "unnecessary and inappropriate".

Mr Qian's response was in line with previous pledges that Hong Kong's internal security would be left to the Hong Kong police.

From across the border, Chinese troops are moving into the territory. The commander of China's Hong Kong garrison told his soldiers that they should "love the people of Hong Kong".

Britain is packing up... ... and the last emblems of Empire are being taken home

Yesterday Mr Blair said there were two pillars to the Sino-British relationship for the future: "The first is adherence to the Joint Declaration, the agreement between Britain and China that guarantees the future prosperity of Hong Kong. Second, is our desire to build a strong and stable relationship with China."

Chanting "Tony, we love you", Hong Kong people on Monday gave visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair a tumultuous reception as he walked through a city shopping mall hours before the colony's handover to China.

Controversy Over Handover Ceremonies

The Britain and the United States decided to boycott the investiture ceremony. The Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy however said he would attend the swearing in ceremony: "We don't approve of the Provisional Legislature but we didn't choose the design of the ceremony".

Patten says goodbye

Chris Patten, Hong Kong's 28th and last British Governor, has left Government House today.

The building has been his home for the past five years. The governor's standard was lowered and he left - never to return.

Listen live to all the handover ceremonies - or watch them, with realaudio and realvideo