<P> The Sino - British Joint Declaration was signed by both the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Premier of the People's Republic of China on 19 December 1984 in Beijing . The Declaration entered into force with the exchange of instruments of ratification on 27 May 1985 and was registered by the People's Republic of China and United Kingdom governments at the United Nations on 12 June 1985 . In the Joint Declaration, the People's Republic of China Government stated that it had decided to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong (including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories) with effect from 1 July 1997 and the United Kingdom Government declared that it would relinquish Hong Kong to the PRC with effect from 1 July 1997 . In the document, the People's Republic of China Government also declared its basic policies regarding Hong Kong . </P> <P> In accordance with the One Country, Two Systems principle agreed between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China, the socialist system of People's Republic of China would not be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and its way of life would remain unchanged for a period of 50 years . The Joint Declaration provides that these basic policies shall be stipulated in the Hong Kong Basic Law . The ceremony of the signing of the Sino - British Joint Declaration took place at 18: 00, 19 December 1984 at the Western Main Chamber of the Great Hall of the People . The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office at first proposed a list of 60--80 Hong Kong people to attend the ceremony . The number was finally extended to 101 . The list included Hong Kong government officials, members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, chairmen of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong celebrities such as Li Ka - shing, Pao Yue - kong and Fok Ying - tung, and also Martin Lee Chu - ming and Szeto Wah . </P> <P> The handover ceremony was held at the new wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on the night of 30 June 1997 . The principal British guest was Charles, Prince of Wales who read a farewell speech on behalf of the Queen . The newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, the British Foreign Minister, Robin Cook, the departing Hong Kong governor, Chris Patten, Chief of the Defence Staff, Charles Guthrie, Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom also attended . </P> <P> Representing China were the President of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin, Premier of the People's Republic of China, Li Peng, and Tung Chee - hwa, the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China . This event was broadcast on television and radio stations across the world . </P>

Who was the last british royal to visit hong kong while it was under british rule