HONG Kong's historic hand-over was witnessed first hand by three Darwen men.
Blackburn with Darwen councillor David Smith joined two friends to watch British dignitaries hand Hong Kong back to the Chinese after more than a century of rule.
Coun Smith, of Avondale Road, said the timing of his reunion with friend Glen Duerden, who has been working in neighbouring China, and Chris Windle, of Jubilee Street, who is teaching English in Hong Kong, was coincidental to the event, but was a great opportunity to see the celebrations.
Coun Smith, who was staying two miles from the capital, said that most people in Hong Kong were relaxed about the hand-over although there was some trepidation about the 4,000 Chinese soldiers who marched across the Chinese-Hong Kong border.
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