00:01:22.070 --> 00:01:25.649
Hong Kong life surges on a
restless wave of energy...

00:01:25.650 --> 00:01:28.589
Nothing like it has
ever happened before.

00:01:28.590 --> 00:01:31.739
The brashest capitalist society
on Earth being handed back

00:01:31.740 --> 00:01:35.000
handed back to the world's
most powerful communist state.

00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:45.029
...intentions is "One
country, two systems."

00:01:45.030 --> 00:01:48.629
Trouble is that the two systems
of outlook are very far apart.

00:01:53.130 --> 00:01:56.264
The very earliest British settlers here

00:01:56.265 --> 00:01:59.249
had nothing good to say
about the weather.

00:01:59.250 --> 00:02:04.439
Some superstitious Chinese will say that
heaven is weeping at the end of British rule.

00:02:04.440 --> 00:02:07.510
Others will say that heaven is
wiping away the pattern...

00:02:12.350 --> 00:02:15.659
Anxious organizers have been
defining the heavens

00:02:15.660 --> 00:02:18.179
as the feng shui,

00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:21.700
the geomancy of wind and water
alive somehow.

00:02:26.910 --> 00:02:31.514
The ceremony itself will be
a rather stark affair,

00:02:31.515 --> 00:02:34.169
the bare minimum necessary to
accomplish the transfer of sovereignty...

00:02:34.170 --> 00:02:38.324
More than 120 million watching it
around the world.

00:02:38.325 --> 00:02:43.124
It promises to be a
poignant and majestic event.

00:02:43.125 --> 00:02:44.119
I hope the weather holds for it.

00:02:44.119 --> 00:02:50.474
Among the VIPs, entertainers and artists such
as world-reknowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

00:02:50.475 --> 00:02:53.489
He is performing as part of
a symphony that was written

00:02:53.490 --> 00:02:56.519
especially for Chinese
reunification that will be

00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:58.034
performed publicly for the first
time here in Hong Kong tomorrow.

00:02:58.034 --> 00:03:03.539
1200 miles from here, successive
governments in Beijing have viewed

00:03:03.540 --> 00:03:07.549
British possession of Hong Kong
as a constant reminder of...

00:03:07.550 --> 00:03:12.254
Also in town, Chinese-born composer
Tan Dun will be conducting his

00:03:12.255 --> 00:03:15.539
"Symphony 1997" for the
July 1st celebrations.

00:03:15.540 --> 00:03:18.659
This marks the first day of Chinese
takeover and features cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

00:03:18.660 --> 00:03:20.999
Demonstration at the stroke of midnight
will not be permitted,

00:03:20.999 --> 00:03:25.504
and those who are in attendance
would suffer some dire consequences.

00:03:25.505 --> 00:03:29.914
This is history in the making.
For the people of Hong Kong,

00:03:29.915 --> 00:03:33.064
this is the beginning of a
new and uncertain era,

00:03:33.065 --> 00:03:36.810
one which they face with
restrained optimism.

00:04:06.410 --> 00:04:08.000
Is this the way?

00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.480
And here they are, Tan Dun
and Yo-Yo Ma.

00:04:44.960 --> 00:04:48.104
You may be wondering
why you're all here.

00:04:48.105 --> 00:04:51.999
What I'd like to talk to you
a little bit about was really

00:04:51.999 --> 00:04:56.934
the genesis of this whole project.
A couple of years ago,

00:04:56.934 --> 00:05:03.000
a couple of friends were talking
about the upcoming event.

00:05:14.250 --> 00:05:15.439
...bridge, so you got
the witness of history.

00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:27.674
It's like an epic, it really
will carry you through

00:05:27.675 --> 00:05:32.369
a whole journey that's
longer than 150 years.

00:05:32.370 --> 00:05:35.924
That's, you know, thousands--
thousands of years.

00:05:35.925 --> 00:05:43.925
And without a political agenda, but just as
a statement from one person to another.

00:05:56.810 --> 00:06:03.999
To me, the biggest challenge to bring
the real story the cello wants to tell.

00:06:03.999 --> 00:06:09.199
Of course, what we think, what we want
to say of course is all in the music.

00:06:11.455 --> 00:06:15.569
The July 1st performance of the
symphony will be set against

00:06:15.570 --> 00:06:21.644
a pyrotechnical extravaganza produced
by award-winning American Don Mischer.

00:06:21.645 --> 00:06:24.999
We still think we got a problem with the
high ones that are going into the wind.

00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.239
They're OK on the downwind side,

00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.000
but on the upwind side
we're worried you'd be right.

00:06:42.650 --> 00:06:47.204
God it's beautiful to see
that stuff shoot up.

00:06:47.205 --> 00:06:50.530
Now what if you run the bad ones down?

00:06:51.170 --> 00:06:55.424
Almost all of the events of
the handover are exclusive,

00:06:55.425 --> 00:06:58.799
and almost elitist, y'know?
There's just not many

00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:01.979
in which the public can come
and watch as a spectator.

00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:05.999
Almost everything is limited to, like,
2000 or 3000 people,

00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:09.329
and in some instances,
the most important ceremonies,

00:07:09.330 --> 00:07:13.244
only VIPs and diplomats and
government officials get in.

00:07:13.245 --> 00:07:14.999
So this is really a show
for the people.

00:08:30.370 --> 00:08:36.285
I really believe in the spirit
of the people of Hong Kong.

00:08:36.285 --> 00:08:40.544
The energy that is there
is absolutely palpable

00:08:40.545 --> 00:08:45.674
to the visitor, to the casual
visitor, to the occasional visitor.

00:08:45.675 --> 00:08:49.350
I'm just amazed at what
is possible here.

00:08:54.050 --> 00:08:56.999
Welcome to viewers around the world
from Hong Kong on this,

00:08:56.999 --> 00:09:00.615
its last day of rule by Britain.

00:09:00.615 --> 00:09:03.719
It's four o'clock in the afternoon,
and China is one step closer

00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.019
to restoring its full national unity.

00:09:07.020 --> 00:09:10.394
At all events the transfer of power
is taking place by agreement,

00:09:10.395 --> 00:09:13.709
one struck in the memorable words
of a British diplomat

00:09:13.710 --> 00:09:18.929
between the "inscrutable Chinese
and the unfathomable barbarians."

00:09:18.930 --> 00:09:22.259
In a few minutes this historic
transfer starts in Government House,

00:09:22.260 --> 00:09:25.484
seat of the Queen's surrogate,
the governor Chris Patten.

00:09:25.485 --> 00:09:27.539
So let's join Eric Robson there.

00:09:27.540 --> 00:09:33.659
Official Hong Kong has passed
away now for Chris Patten.

00:09:33.660 --> 00:09:39.479
And his is now a family departure.
He was a great man of the people

00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:42.999
who managed to carry out a
job of considerable power

00:09:42.999 --> 00:09:45.899
without letting it go to his head.

00:09:45.930 --> 00:09:51.869
People on all sides respect the
way Chris Patten did things.

00:09:51.870 --> 00:09:56.429
There just has been so
much goodwill from all sides.

00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:34.379
As depicted in this Chinese film,

00:10:34.380 --> 00:10:37.259
all the trouble began when China
was beaten by Britain in the Opium Wars.

00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:43.694
When China boycotted British opium,

00:10:43.695 --> 00:10:48.760
Britain retaliated
in the only way she knew how.

00:10:54.230 --> 00:10:59.339
From British point of view, from Chinese
point of view, it's a shame.

00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:07.340
It's a shame of a day
associated with 150 years ago.

00:11:07.845 --> 00:11:13.499
It's shame for invader,
it's shame of the loser.

00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:15.899
It's shame of things.

00:11:34.490 --> 00:11:37.619
I really feel I'm one of them.

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:40.999
I'm one of those each single
Hong Kong people.

00:11:41.999 --> 00:11:48.089
Hong Kong people in such
a long history and

00:11:48.090 --> 00:11:53.399
never been really treated as British,
never been treated as a Chinese.

00:11:53.400 --> 00:11:58.934
They were themselves struggling, especially
I know a lot of Hong Kong artists also,

00:11:58.935 --> 00:12:06.610
which way, which direction they
can deepening-- digging the roots.

00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:43.559
Now they're sort of settled down.

00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:47.639
And in a way I think you can
see everybody in Hong Kong

00:12:47.640 --> 00:12:52.829
is very very happy for culturally,

00:12:52.830 --> 00:12:57.509
geographically coming back.

00:12:57.510 --> 00:13:03.610
Historically coming back to
this big land, big family.

00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:30.999
Do you think that they have
learned a lot about Hong Kong,

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:35.024
or anything about Hong Kong
in the last few years?

00:14:35.025 --> 00:14:37.274
I think that is the
most serious problem.

00:14:37.275 --> 00:14:39.194
They don't seem to know how it operates,

00:14:39.195 --> 00:14:41.084
they don't understand the rule of law.

00:14:41.085 --> 00:14:43.289
And I think that the most
dangerous thing is that

00:14:43.290 --> 00:14:45.539
they'll want to put their
stamp of authority on it,

00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:46.999
but not quite know how to do it in a way

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.000
that will let Hong Kong
move forward successfully.

00:14:50.999 --> 00:14:53.624
I can't predict the future.

00:14:53.625 --> 00:14:55.889
There are alot of people that say
all kinds of things all the time.

00:14:55.890 --> 00:14:58.604
Nobody knows what's going to happen.

00:14:58.605 --> 00:15:03.419
In fact that's something people
can make predictions on any side.

00:15:03.420 --> 00:15:05.294
We don't know.

00:15:05.295 --> 00:15:08.534
Culture should be
separate from politics.

00:15:08.535 --> 00:15:10.274
Occasionally through an event like this,

00:15:10.275 --> 00:15:14.549
yeah, they happen to co-habitate
in some space, and that's fine.

00:15:14.550 --> 00:15:20.110
But we're doing a piece of music.

00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:32.609
Welcome back to MSNBC.
It's not just political figures

00:15:32.610 --> 00:15:36.959
gathered here in Hong Kong.
Among the VIPs, entertainers and artists

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:41.804
such as world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Earlier we spoke with him.

00:15:41.805 --> 00:15:45.539
The idea then, Tan Dun came up

00:15:45.540 --> 00:15:50.099
with "Heaven Earth Mankind,"
which is I guess it's a Chinese theme.

00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:52.034
It's a Buddhist theme.

00:15:52.035 --> 00:15:53.609
And it's actually

00:15:53.610 --> 00:15:58.259
a wider and broader theme then
even the events of recent history.

00:15:58.260 --> 00:16:03.044
So we thought it might be appropriate
to create a piece in that way.

00:16:03.045 --> 00:16:07.709
A solo from you will also be
featured in a performance

00:16:07.710 --> 00:16:09.869
of the symphony tomorrow.
Is that what you're going to

00:16:09.870 --> 00:16:13.329
perform a little bit of for us right now?
Absolutely.

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:55.240
And so right after that the
bells come in, and that's it.

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:10.999
There are these incredible bells
that were discovered--

00:17:10.999 --> 00:17:14.745
bronze bells, 64 of them.

00:17:14.745 --> 00:17:20.129
2400 years old,
unearthed in 1978 in China.

00:17:20.130 --> 00:17:24.914
And they've just these amazing
sounding instruments.

00:17:24.915 --> 00:17:28.199
And I thought it would
be so wonderful to

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:34.210
have a chance to hear these instruments
rather than just to see them.

00:17:40.999 --> 00:17:46.784
They have a beautiful,
dark golden elegance.

00:17:55.560 --> 00:18:01.784
This is what I really, really wanted to do,
to write this piece because the bells.

00:18:01.785 --> 00:18:06.599
Of course, what's the texture between
bell and the modern orchestra?

00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:11.920
And what is the harmony between
ancient bells and this children's choir?

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:27.460
Hello, hey.

00:20:57.330 --> 00:21:00.250
Ready? Okay.

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:37.000
We are now introduced to
our narrators for the evening,

00:22:37.001 --> 00:22:40.499
the Hong Kong-born international
entertainer Frances Yip,

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:42.999
and the actor Brian Blessed.

00:22:47.999 --> 00:22:53.219
Music, in its myriad sounds,
is part of life in Hong Kong.

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:56.189
More often than the
stately music of Elgar

00:22:56.190 --> 00:22:59.999
are heard the drums of dragon
boats and the clamor of lion dances.

00:22:59.999 --> 00:23:02.819
But the double, double, double beat
of the thundering drum

00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:10.139
may also mark a passing band
passing on parade,

00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:18.140
exhorting us all to life our heads,
walk in step, and raise our spirits.

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:43.859
Beethoven's Ninth, "Ode to Joy,"

00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:46.999
with the hope that this place with so
many assets and the advantages

00:23:46.999 --> 00:23:49.999
will be allowed to
fulfill its potential.

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:55.999
My personal experience is China is the
most capitalist country in the world right now.

00:23:55.999 --> 00:24:02.699
The Chinese have been deprived of money
and opportunities for so many years,

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:06.999
now when they see any
ways of making money,

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.999
I mean, they're dying for it.

00:24:08.999 --> 00:24:15.130
It's all business, business, business.
I think business is the 21st century.

00:25:04.760 --> 00:25:14.999
In Temple Street, people start
to sing in a way which today's kids

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:21.344
only probably heard anything from
their parents or grand grandparents.

00:25:21.345 --> 00:25:24.104
But those things are
still in Temple Street.

00:26:13.190 --> 00:26:17.549
In Cantonese, operas
sing their sadness,

00:26:17.550 --> 00:26:22.919
sing their happiness,
and the way they're presented

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:25.299
is so simple, is so original,
and magical.

00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:29.899
More. More. More!

00:26:38.570 --> 00:26:42.199
You can change the bow freely,
if you want. More improvisational.

00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:45.899
Change the bow.

00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.899
More improvisational.

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:54.999
More, must be more dynamic.

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:06.999
Excited! More!

00:27:17.810 --> 00:27:19.439
Back to meditational.

00:27:26.370 --> 00:27:30.989
We start in very very meditational,
then goes very very excited.

00:27:30.990 --> 00:27:33.430
Then come back to meditational.

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:49.950
Tan Dun has really written a massive
epic with this little tape recorder here

00:27:49.950 --> 00:27:52.999
from street music Hong Kong opera.

00:27:52.999 --> 00:27:56.199
I love having the micing because
I can really play it like a qin, right?

00:27:57.899 --> 00:28:00.884
I'm actually very curious to
know how people will react

00:28:00.885 --> 00:28:06.854
because there are certainly
huge Chinese elements there.

00:28:06.855 --> 00:28:12.999
This qin part, I was wondering if
you can kind of slowly deliver.

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:20.415
Don't have to be so exact.
This is poetry.

00:28:20.415 --> 00:28:25.810
Yeah, yeah...absolutely.

00:29:12.170 --> 00:29:17.639
Archers are too far away to the Kowloon
side, they're all way too far away.

00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:22.150
They're getting all farther and
farther away to the Kowloon side.

00:29:31.370 --> 00:29:33.999
Level down, I can't hear
when that's playing that loud.

00:29:36.930 --> 00:29:40.999
One, two seconds to cue one.
Goddamit, why did that happen!

00:29:48.230 --> 00:29:55.154
It's tense and very stressful and what's
tough about this is that it's bigger.

00:29:55.155 --> 00:29:59.009
I mean, the area that you're filling
in the harbor is just so immense.

00:29:59.010 --> 00:30:01.589
I mean, we normally
do shows in theaters.

00:30:01.590 --> 00:30:05.459
We occasionally do shows in stadiums
of, like, 100,000 people.

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:07.619
I mean, it's very unusual to do a
show in an arena that's this big.

00:30:07.620 --> 00:30:12.734
It's basically two and a half
miles long and one mile wide.

00:30:12.735 --> 00:30:16.199
And the fact that it's all on the water
makes it more complicated.

00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:17.339
So yes, it's stressful.

00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:20.099
And we're trying a few things
that haven't been tried before.

00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:22.684
And we've taken a few chances
with the elements,

00:30:22.685 --> 00:30:25.559
like with wind and
weather and soforth.

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:29.609
You know, we're cautiously
optimistic at this point.

00:30:29.610 --> 00:30:36.730
We're not, you know-- I mean we're not
sleeping real well at night right now.

00:32:16.550 --> 00:32:20.459
And now over to you
in Hong Kong, Brian.

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:24.449
And the formal ceremony here in
the hall has just got underway.

00:32:24.450 --> 00:32:26.249
There are as many meanings
to this ceremony

00:32:26.250 --> 00:32:27.199
as there are people attending it.

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.700
We're supposed to be there!

00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:31.399
We're supposed to be there.

00:32:34.170 --> 00:32:36.640
I'm glad I'm not there.

00:33:00.290 --> 00:33:02.930
Right now you just see
alot of people milling around..

00:35:45.510 --> 00:35:52.529
...and to have been part of the success
which the people of Hong Kong have made

00:35:52.530 --> 00:35:55.739
of their own opportunities.

00:35:55.740 --> 00:36:00.610
In a few moments,
United Kingdom's responsibilities...

00:37:21.640 --> 00:37:26.350
This is the last shouting of British.

00:38:20.999 --> 00:38:31.999
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

00:38:55.700 --> 00:38:57.200
Listen.

00:39:00.999 --> 00:39:02.499
The whole city.

00:40:37.640 --> 00:40:41.999
Extreme emotions this early morning
in the free port of Hong Kong.

00:40:41.999 --> 00:40:48.999
For the British sadness and resignation.
But for the Chinese, joy and completion.

00:41:13.999 --> 00:41:18.999
The people of Hong Kong woke up this morning
to find an army driving through their city.

00:41:18.999 --> 00:41:23.999
I spoke to one family of born-again patriots,
who'd been up since 4:00 to see the troops.

00:41:23.999 --> 00:41:28.259
We come here to let them know
we love them very much.

00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:30.959
The sight of these troops on
the streets of this city

00:41:30.960 --> 00:41:34.274
will take some getting used to.

00:41:34.275 --> 00:41:39.719
They've been told they're here as an
army of liberation from a colonial past.

00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:42.999
But for many of these people,
they're still an army of occupation.

00:42:49.640 --> 00:42:53.939
Get it out. Shut up, take it out.

00:43:13.999 --> 00:43:14.999
How do you think it's going?

00:43:14.999 --> 00:43:15.999
Very well, very well.

00:43:17.280 --> 00:43:18.999
This is the first time the kids have
done something like this

00:43:18.999 --> 00:43:22.999
and that makes it difficult, and then
how to sync and how to put it together

00:43:22.999 --> 00:43:25.299
makes it complicated for them.
And they're exhausted after

00:43:25.299 --> 00:43:28.999
this morning's performance, and it's
draining and stand around

00:43:28.999 --> 00:43:31.899
since 7:30 in the morning, so that
makes it very complicated.

00:43:31.899 --> 00:43:32.999
How are you?

00:43:34.101 --> 00:43:36.999
Body all aching
and racked with pain.

00:43:37.999 --> 00:43:39.999
If Yo-Yo can do it--
he's younger than I am.

00:43:39.999 --> 00:43:40.999
If Yo-Yo can do it, I can.

00:45:04.760 --> 00:45:06.999
Actually I really would have
good fun with kids

00:45:06.999 --> 00:45:10.999
because when I was
telling them just about,

00:45:10.999 --> 00:45:14.199
"Hey you're from Tokyo, right? Do this."

00:45:15.999 --> 00:45:16.999
"Do it."

00:45:18.599 --> 00:45:19.999
Exactly.

00:45:20.199 --> 00:45:21.199
Interesting.

00:45:21.999 --> 00:45:28.999
I think actually Asian Youth Orchestra
has a kind of a very special quality

00:45:29.199 --> 00:45:31.999
specifically for my music.

00:45:34.940 --> 00:45:37.999
Among the celebrations of
Hong Kong's reunification,

00:45:37.999 --> 00:45:42.999
hundreds of homing pigeons have been
released to find their way back to the mainland,

00:45:42.999 --> 00:45:44.999
symbols of what Beijing sees

00:45:44.999 --> 00:45:48.999
as the unbreakable bond
between Hong Kong and China.

00:47:01.970 --> 00:47:06.199
So we've had two days where one nation
ended a century of humiliation

00:47:06.199 --> 00:47:08.099
another lowered the flag on empire.

00:47:08.099 --> 00:47:13.199
Skies opened, the heavens wept,
and an era closed.

00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:19.409
As you can see behind me the crowds
gathering to witness a huge fireworks display.

00:47:19.410 --> 00:47:22.229
According to the new Chinese rulers
it will be one of the largest ever,

00:47:22.230 --> 00:47:24.399
certainly the largest ever on water.

00:47:41.299 --> 00:47:43.399
It's going very well.

00:47:44.999 --> 00:47:46.999
It was kind of down to the wire.

00:47:47.299 --> 00:47:49.199
Is this the most responsive
crowd you've ever heard?

00:47:50.299 --> 00:47:51.999
This is pretty great,
this is rock concert stuff.

00:47:52.399 --> 00:47:54.199
They're rockin' it, they're ready
to rock and roll out there.

00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:04.199
How many people do
you think there are?

00:48:05.990 --> 00:48:07.199
Probably as far as you can see.

00:48:07.999 --> 00:48:12.999
I mean everybody's staying in
their hotels, offices, rooftops.

00:48:12.999 --> 00:48:16.199
It's gonna be amazing how many
people are watching this-- all of China.

00:48:39.130 --> 00:48:42.999
I repeat that it's about 15 seconds
till we go to air now.

00:48:42.999 --> 00:48:44.999
15 seconds till we go to air.

00:48:44.999 --> 00:48:50.999
Probably about 7 minutes
until we go to...

00:51:53.270 --> 00:51:56.903
Seven, six, five, four,

00:51:56.904 --> 00:52:01.999
three, two, one.