Book excerpt: The reversion of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997 is an event of major historical significance. This volume examines this event from a long-term perspective against the background of earlier turning-points in Hong Kong's political, economic and social history. Some of the chapters concentrate on Britain's colonial role from 1842; others place the emphasis on China's policies towards the colony; while some essays focus on the experiences of the Hong Kong people themselves. Hong Kong's Transitions also explores Hong Kong's relations with China and Britain in this troubled last decade of colonial rule, analyses the territory's wider global connections, and offers a basis for assessing its possible future as a part of the Chinese state. The study is intended to appeal to specialists and non-specialists and offers a broad context for interpreting this particularly crucial stage in Hong Kong's history.