2000s in Hong Kong

Despite a transfer of power to China, the citizens participate in how their government is run, and the region maintains some degree of autonomy.

The economy had gradually recovered since 2004 and the overall unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in 2008, however the overall figure rose again to 5.4% in 2009 due to the global economic downturn in the last quarter of 2008.

The unpopularity of Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa and his administration, combined with the dissatisfaction about economy recession and the pandemic control, prompted an estimated 500,000 - 1,000,000 people to march on 1 July 2003, making it the largest since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

The security secretary, Regina Ip, who was heavily criticised for her arrogant and condescending handling of the proposed law, was forced to resign.

[4] For the first time in Hong Kong's history, on 1 July 2006, the People's Liberation Army marched through the city.

[5] Many calls were made for the resignation of Tung Chee-hwa, a leader who was blessed by the Chinese Communist Party, Jiang Zemin.

suspected Beijing forced him to resign due to widespread public disapproval and his perceived lacklustre leadership.

Other self-censorship events include the 2009 Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority forum where major station TVB was labeled as CCTVB with censored news like the mainland's CCTV.

Joseph Yam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority who was the highest paid central banker in the world resigned in 2009.

[13] At the end of the 2000s, the International Commerce Centre (ICC), at 484 m (1,588 ft) high, was the tallest building in Hong Kong.

The tallest building prior to the ICC was the Two International Finance Centre (2 IFC), at 415 m (1,362 ft) high, completed in 2003.

In early 2005, a major relief campaign concert was held for the victims of the neighbouring 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

The events were held at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Fo Tan, Sha Tin.

Specifically, the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau were constantly bombarded with questions about the effectiveness in the decision to slaughter in large numbers.

Wild dogs, rats and cats preying on bags of uncollected dead poultry also made the whole procedure a public relations disaster for the government.

Hong Kong remained on the World Health Organization's list of affected areas until 23 June 2003.

With 148 nations participating at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, it was one of the largest international event ever held in the area.

Numerous sources proclaimed the conference as the "Siege of Wan Chai" as the world class city became the hosting site of the event.