Through the Years

                                                                  Through the Years 

My grandmother was separated from the family by just fifty kilometers, they were unable to meet for over forty years. This was a true story about the pain of my grandmother and her sister. For more than one hundred and fifty years, Hong Kong and Mainland China was separated by history and politics. Before 1997, Hong Kong was under British rule, and there was a strict border control between Hong Kong and Mainland China. Many families couldn't see each other. This created a sharp contrast between the two places, which is culture, lifestyle and travel policies. However, after Hong Kong returned to China, there was a big change in people’s lives. The border became more open, travel became easier, and Hong Kong maintained its unique system under the “One country, Two systems” policy, which allows Hong Kong to maintain a high degree of autonomy while being part of China. The return of Hong Kong to China had a big impact on my family, bringing us closer together and opening up new opportunities for growth and connection. 

When the British gave back Hong Kong to China, my grandmother saw her sister again. Before 1997, my grandmother’s sister moved to Hong Kong for work and a better life, while my grandmother stayed in Shenzhen, which it is the closest city to Hong Kong on the Mainland China, just only fifty kilometers away. At that time, people from Mainland China needed special permits to visit, and the process was difficult. Many ordinary people could not get approval, so my grandmother didn’t have a chance to meet her sister. For more than forty years, they could only communicate through letters. However, after Hong Kong returned, the border was open. My grandmother was finally able to meet her sister. I can still remember the tears in my grandmother’s eyes when she first told me how she reunited with her sister. She also took me with her to visit her sister, and I met some of the cousins I had never met. It is miraculous to me that I had relatives I had never met. This event made me realize that family is very important. Seeing my grandma crying for joy made me think I should cherish my family too. 

Hong Kong’s return also influenced my education. The Hong Kong education system is followed the British style because Hong Kong was a British colony for over one hundred and fifty years. The British introduced English languages schools, Western teaching methods and a different exam system. Ever after 1997, Hong Kong kept many of these education traditions. The education systems in Hong Kong and Mainland China were very different. After Hong Kong’s return, there were more connections between them. My high school is called China-Hong Kong English school, which is a combination of Chinese and Western ways of education. Thus, it helped me develop better English skills and a global mindset. In addition, my school have more English classes than normal Mainland schools, and many of our teachers have the experience of studying abroad which give us better guidance. Attending this school was good for me by providing me more academic opportunities due to the exam system. My school followed the A-Level system, which is recognized by universities around the world. This also gave me a chance to apply to universities in different countries, not just China.  

Hong Kong’s return made travel easier, and people from the mainland can go there easily. Before 1997, it was very difficult for people from Mainland China to go to Hong Kong. They needed special travel documents, and the process was slow and complex. However, after 1997, the new travel policies allowed people to visit more freely. Now, every Mainland China resident can visit Hong Kong twice every three months. They just need to have a simple visa. I have visited Hong Kong many times, and I am familiar with the streets of Hong Kong because I live in Zhongshan, which is very close to Hong Kong. One of my favorite parts of Hong Kong is Disneyland. Disneyland is a part of my childhood memory. When I was little, I often watched Disney movies and dreamed of meeting the characters in the park. Because of this, my parents often took me to the Hong Kong Disneyland. I will never forget those joyful moments. Besides Disneyland, Hong Kong has many other attractions, like Victoria Harbour, Ocean Park, and many international shopping malls. Moreover, Hong Kong has a mix of Eastern and Western cultures. The food, the buildings, and the lifestyle there all show this mix of culture. I have a lot of memories of Hong Kong, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of Hong Kong.  

 Hong Kong’s return to China changed my life in many ways, and it also deepened my understanding of history. It helped my family reunite, improved my education and made travel easier. Without this historical event, my grandmother might never have seen her sister again, I might not have been able to visit Disneyland, and I might not have a chance to study in U.S. The return of Hong Kong was not just a change on the map, but a change that deeply influenced many families, including mine. This event will always be meaningful to me and to all people across the vast country.