Daily Times

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday congratulated the leadership and people of China on 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China.

“I extend my heartiest congratulations to H.E. President Xi Jinping, the government & people of China on the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

He said Hong Kong was the perfect example of the successful implementation of “One country, two systems”. On 1st July 1997, Britain formally handed Hong Kong back to China, ending the British Empire in the Far East.

Under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Hong Kong was to have 50 years of semi-autonomy under ‘one country two systems’, with promises that its democratic rights would be expanded. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday thanked China as the first power plant under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project became operational. “It gives me immense satisfaction to announce that the 720 mega watt hydal power plant in Karot has started functioning,” he said in a tweet.

PM Sharif said he was thankful to the government of China for materializing the project.

He mentioned that the project could not gain momentum during around four years of the previous government.