BEIJING. June 30 (Xinhua) - The world watched on July 1, 1997 as the Union Jack was lowered over Hong Kong and the five-star red flag of China raised in its stead. British colonial rule came to an end and a new dawn broke over Hong Kong, as it was returned into the welcoming arms of the motherland.

Today, as the world turns its attention to the metropolis 20 years on, what does it see? A Hong Kong more dynamic than ever before, and one thriving under "one country, two systems."

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been run under the guidelines of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy.

On one hand, the central government has effectively exercised overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR in accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, which includes areas such as appointing chief executives and principal officials in successive HKSAR governments and exercising diplomatic power.

It is the People