On the podium season two is available now.

Like many people in this world I have never seen an Olympic medal before.

Bringing you more remarkable stories of Olympic and Paralympic athletes

and their incredible journeys to the podium.

This is my dream and it came through that day.

Find out more at the end of this podcast.

Hello and welcome to the History Hour Podcast from the BBC World Service with me Max Pearson

history brought to life by those who have lived through dramatic moments.

This week we're marking 25 years since the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China.

As more than 150 years of colonial rule came to an end, pro-democracy campaigners feared the worst.

Most of us did not expect the Chinese government to start arresting

people, closing down television stations and newspapers. We'll be looking at what was promised by both sides and what has happened since.

Also, Hong Kong's pre-handover history, including life in the enigmatic Kowloon Walled City.

You know the Kowloon Wall City was famous for a few things,

prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

And how the Hong Kong football team once pulled off a famous victory over China.

Once we scored a goal, all the football friends in Hong Kong

opened their window and shouted into the street and they all jumped into the street and celebrate.

That's all coming up later in the podcast.

But let's take the moment of the handover as our starting point.

In June of 1997,

Hong Kong was a buzzing hub of capitalism surrounded by a communist state.

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