The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People Republic of China is often referred to as the handover of Hong Kong. In which year did this transfer to China take place?

Introduction / Context:
The handover of Hong Kong from British rule to Chinese sovereignty is a major event in modern world history and international relations. It marked the end of more than 150 years of British colonial administration and the beginning of the one country, two systems arrangement under Chinese control. Examinations in history, politics, and general knowledge frequently ask for the year in which this transition took place.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China.
• This transfer is often called the handover of Hong Kong.
• We are asked to identify the year in which this handover occurred.
• The options are four possible years from the 1990s and 2000.

Concept / Approach:
The actual handover of Hong Kong occurred at midnight on 1 July 1997, when sovereignty formally shifted from the United Kingdom to the People Republic of China. To answer correctly, it is important to remember that the Basic Law and related agreements set 1997 as the year when the 99 year lease for the New Territories expired, prompting the return of the entire territory. Among the given options, only 1997 matches this key historical fact.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Hong Kong was under British control from the nineteenth century and that the modern handover occurred in the late 1990s.Step 2: Remember that all discussions of the handover in newspapers and textbooks refer specifically to the date 1 July 1997.Step 3: Look at the options and identify 1997 as option C.Step 4: Confirm that 1990 and 1996 are too early and that 2000 is too late compared with the well known 1997 handover.Step 5: Select option C, 1997, as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling images and descriptions of the handover ceremony, which took place on the night of 30 June and early hours of 1 July 1997. Many world history timelines explicitly mark 1997 as the year of the Hong Kong handover, and exam preparation materials often mention that 1997 is a landmark year for both British colonial history and Chinese modern history.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1990 does not correspond to the handover and predates the expiry of the lease agreements; negotiations were still ongoing at that time.

1996 is close to the correct year but still one year earlier than the actual transfer of sovereignty, which is why it is sometimes used as a trap option.

2000 is several years after the real handover and has no specific link with the sovereignty change in Hong Kong.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse 1997 with 1999 or 2000 because many historical events cluster around the turn of the millennium. Another pitfall is focusing only on the month and day, such as 1 July, while forgetting the correct year. To avoid this, it is useful to remember that 1997 is simultaneously important for the Hong Kong handover and for the Asian financial crisis, thereby reinforcing the year in your long term memory.

Final Answer:
The handover of Hong Kong to China took place in the year 1997.