Hong Kong handover: What Jiang had to say

Excerpts from Chinese President Jiang Zemin's speech at the handover ceremony:

"At this moment, people of all countries in the world are casting their eyes on Hong Kong ... This is both a festival for the Chinese nation and a victory for the universal cause of peace and justice."

"July 1, 1997 will go down in the annals of history as a day that merits eternal memory. The return of Hong Kong to the motherland after ... a century of vicissitudes indicates that from now on, the Hong Kong compatriots have become true masters of this Chinese land and that Hong Kong has entered a new era of development."

"History will remember Mr. Deng Xiaoping for his creative concept of 'one country, two systems'. It is precisely along the course envisaged by this great concept that we have successfully resolved the Hong Kong question through diplomatic negotiations and finally achieved Hong Kong's return to the motherland."

"On this solemn occasion, I wish to extend my cordial greetings and best wishes to the 6 million or more Hong Kong compatriots who have now returned to the embrace of the motherland."