二戰後香港浴火重生，1950年韓戰爆發，香港由轉口港急速轉型為輕工業中心。到了八十年代經濟再次轉型，香港成為國際金融中心。整體來說，由戰後的百廢待興，經歷了半世紀香港成為東方之珠。1960年代香港的本地生產總值僅是英國的三分之一，但到1990年代中期已經超越宗主國。不過隨着新界租約期在1997會完結，1980年代中英就開始香港前途問題談判，但港人對自身前途無從置喙。

After World War II , HK rose from the ashes and rapidly transformed from an entrepot to a light industrial centre due to the Korean War in the early 1950s. In the 1980s, the economy underwent another transition, HK became an international financial centre. Within half a century, HK transformed from a warzone to the “Pearl of the Orient”. In the 1960s, HK's gross domestic product was only one-third of the UK’s, but by the mid-1990s, HK had surpassed its sovereign nation.

However, as the lease of the New Territories was set to expire in 1997, China and Britain began negotiations on the future of HK in the 1980s, but Hongkongers had no say on their own future, not even a referendum.

 

1996 香港地圖（約為1954年）復刻版 Map of Hong Kong cir. 1954. Reproduction

圖中已大致是我們所認識的地貌，但啟德機場延伸至維港中央的跑道未開始填海，中環北岸的填海也未完成。現時紅磡及西九龍一帶，當時仍然是一片汪洋。

The landscape of downton HK was roughly what we’d recognised today. However, the runway extension of Kai Tak Airport, which extended to the centre of harbour, had not yet begun. The land reclamation on the northern shore of Central had not been completed. Many residential areas and cross-harbour tunnels at Hung Hom Bay and West Kowloon were still part of the sea.

 

2022 香港旗復刻版 Hong Kong Flag. Reproduction

香港旗於1871年首度出現，一直使用至主權移交為止。1959年1月21日為港人所熟悉的新版香港盾徽頒佈，王夫菲臘親王在同年3月訪港期間，代表女王將盾徽授予香港。同年7月27日，港府正式將香港旗所載的阿群帶路圖改為新香港盾徽。香港旗是當時代表香港的國際標誌，1996年香港取得歷史上首面奧運獎牌，香港旗伴隨着《天佑女皇》在奧運會閉幕禮緩緩升起，是港人的集體回憶。

The Hong Kong Flag was the official flag representing HK during colonial rule, first appearing in 1871, it was in use until the transfer of sovereignty in 1997. On January 21, 1959, a new version of the HK coat of arms was announced, and it was presented to HK by Prince Philip during his visit in March. On July 27, 1959, the HK government officially redesigned the flag and added the new coat of arms. The flag was used when HK participated in international organisations. When HK won its first Olympic medal in 1996, the flag was raised alongside "God Save the Queen" playing at the closing ceremony of the Game, which was a memorable moment for Hongkoners.