Beijing: The new king of an old crown colony

International | One year later, some effects of communist rule are obvious; but for the church, the changes are more subtle | Mindy Belz

Gone are the British crown and the word royal from establishments like the Royal Hong Kong Observatory. So, too, the image of Queen Elizabeth from postage stamps. The hybrid bauhinia, a flower, is the symbol of a new Hong Kong under Chinese rule, adorning everything from public places to police insignia. Holidays like the British monarch's birthday have been replaced by China's National Day on Oct. 1 and Hong Kong's own handover day, July 1.

The vestiges of British control over the once-colonial territory have faded faster than lotus petals since the historic handover one year ago of Hong Kong to the Chinese government. Residents of Hong Kong, once accustomed to the command the English language gave them in the world economy, now receive utility bills in Chinese. Chinese lettering has replaced most English signage. And, in one of the new government's more controversial moves, beginning in September, most schools will be required to use the local Cantonese dialect for instruction. Mandarin, too, will be introduced in primary school, further sidelining English. Schools now use English or a mix of Cantonese and English for instruction. With a twist to the proverbial axiom, Hong Kongers are discovering that the more things change, the more things change.