In late June, six Y-Press news bureau members traveled to Hong Kong. The purpose was to interview young people about the 3-year-old hand-over of the region from Great Britain to Communist China. During this 10-day trip, the team interviewed 105 young people and six adults who shared their opinions on nationality, politics, lifestyle, freedoms and their future under the Chinese government.

When the People's Republic of China took control of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997 , emotions in the former British colony ran the gamut from dread to resignation to optimism.

And while China has not imposed any drastic changes so far, Hong Kong, controlled by Great Britain for more than 150 years but with a population largely of Chinese descent, is in a state of flux. Its youths seem largely uncertain about changes in nationality, lifestyle, politics and freedoms.

The agreement that returned control, if not total power, over the region to China -- making Hong Kong a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with some autonomy -- will be in effect for 50 years, after which the mainland will have complete control of Hong Kong.

In the meantime, there already are visual changes: the traditional British red mailboxes now are green; newly minted Hong Kong coins no longer carry the image of Queen Elizabeth, showing instead the Hong Kong flower, bauhinia; and the Chinese flag replaced the Union Jack atop government buildings.

Other changes are not so obvious.

"After the hand-over, most schools use Chinese as a medium of instruction," said Emily Yu , 15, a student at Sacred Heart Canossian College.

"Before the hand-over, schools used English to teach, (and) only Chinese for Chinese history. But after the hand-over, the government only permitted, I think, 114 high schools (about one-fourth) to use English to teach.''

Despite the changes, the youths in the region don't seem worried.

Through dozens of interviews, Y-Press learned how young people in Hong Kong feel about their lives under Chinese rule.

Nationality: "We can say we are Chinese, not Hong Kongese or anything else."

Before the hand-over, many residents did not feel a connection to any country. When asked to identify a nationality, the responses could be British, Chinese or Hong Kongese.

"Before 1997, there is the truth that we have an identity crisis. The young people have an identity crisis,' said David Wong Kun-woon , social worker for The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. "We say that we are Chinese, but we (held) a British passport. We don't have the Chinese passport.

"After 1997, everyone living in Hong Kong automatically becomes Chinese because Hong Kong becomes part of China. It is a reality.''

For many, then, the hand-over affirmed their heritage.

"My father always taught me I am Chinese, but I had not that feeling in 1997. The last time I went to Beijing and I saw the flag rise, at that time, I feel we are Chinese,'' said Kenny Chan Wing Chung , 20, who was attending a leadership camp at a YMCA facility in New Territories, part of the Hong Kong region that is near the town of Sha Tin.

Sandy Cheng , an 18-year-old who also attended the YMCA camp, said the changeover has brought her happiness.

"We can say we are Chinese, not Hong Kongese or anything else," Sandy said.

Still, not everyone so readily identified with China.

When Y-Press asked young people to write their addresses, 74 of the 105 interviewed identified China as their country.

"At first I feel something unnatural. I don't want to be a citizen of China,'' said Lorraine Luk , 18, a student journalist at Ming Pao Daily .

"I think China is outdated, and I hate China. But after three years, I get used to it, and I don't think China is so bad.''

For some Hong Kong youths, the change was similar to that of a child returning home. In fact, July 1 in Hong Kong is now celebrated as "Return to Motherland Day.''

"I think Hong Kong is just a child, and China is the mom. I think Hong Kong comes back to China just like a family back together,'' said William Wan Tsz Jung , 16, from Summerbridge, a summer school session for at-risk kids.

Lifestyle: "Sometimes I think Hong Kong doesn't have its own culture. It has the culture of others."

Before the hand-over, many Hong Kong residents were worried that the communism of China would replace the capitalism of Hong Kong. About 60,000 Hong Kong residents -- fewer than 1 percent of the population -- fled the colony before 1997, according to government figures.

Most emigrated to Canada, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, the United States and Singapore.

Now, however, some are returning. And fewer are leaving. According to a government publication, emigration in 1999 was the lowest in 20 years.

Jessica Lam Kwok Yiu , 19, knows young people who changed their minds.

"Before the hand-over, many of my friends had emigrated to the other countries. Just after the hand-over, most of my friends came back because they see there are no differences,''

Hong Kong culture always has been a blend of East and West. Western influences remain strong: Mission Impossible II was showing in theaters during the summer, the Backstreet Boys are a favorite among Hong Kong youths, and shopping is a popular pastime.

But Asian influences are dominant. Extended families live together. Much of the cuisine leans to the East (even McDonald's sells a corn pie and a sesame McFlurry). And feng shui (the ancient Chinese philosophy that proper placement of a home and furniture can promote the success of its inhabitants) is as important to a building as its architect.

"Sometimes I think Hong Kong doesn't have its own culture. It has the culture of others,'' said Janice Yip , 16, from Sacred Heart Canossian College.

"It's really, really hard to describe Hong Kong culture because it's mostly people just crazy about pop music and Japanese fashions,'' she said.

Politics: "So even if we protest, there's not much we can do, because there's no election...they have to worry about."

While official documents such as the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law establish the relationship between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese government, there still is a lack of understanding and interest expressed by Hong Kong youths.

Wong, of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, thinks the root of the young people's apathy lies in the schools.

"In the education system, we never teach our youngsters to pay attention to politics. We never encourage our young people to speak out their opinions, their ideas, in particular about the political affairs,'' said Wong.

Another student journalist at the Ming Pao Daily , 17-year-old Joshua Leung , blames that on the British.

"They didn't teach us about the concept of being a citizen,'' Leung said.

One responsibility of citizens is voting. However, in Hong Kong, the people can directly elect only 24 of the 60 members of the Legislative Council. Moreover, the highest-ranking official in Hong Kong, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa , was appointed by officials in Beijing.

"(The government executives) aren't really under pressure to do what we say,'' said David Kim , 17, from Island School. "So even if we protest, there's not much we can do, because there's no election . . . they have to worry about.''

But according to Alexandra Kwang , 17, also from Island School, Hong Kong's culture has more bearing on voter apathy than the government or the schools.

"I think people in Hong Kong tend to be more materialistic,'' she said. "Generally, people are more concerned about more materialistic stuff, about what they wear, what they have, quality of life.''

Coinciding with the hand-over in 1997 was the Asian economic crisis, which seemed to have far more impact on Hong Kong than any policy handed down from China.

The Hang Seng Index, a barometer of the Hong Kong stock market, had its worst performance in decades around the time of the hand-over.

Samantha Yeung , 19, said the economic dip got people's attention and made them more concerned about politics.

"Before 1997, Hong Kong (was) still a very advanced, very modern and enriched city,'' she said. "Everyone could concentrate on money, but now everything has changed.

"We do not have jobs, so they are more concerned about the government and the performance of the government. They want the government to be more concerned about us.''

While Hong Kong has rebounded since 1998 -- the Hang Seng Index recently posted an all-time high -- confidence in the government, as indicated by support for Tung, is waning. A recent Hong Kong Baptist University poll reported that 63 percent of those surveyed approve of the performance of the Chinese president, Jiang Zemin, while only 32 percent approve of Tung.

"(The SAR government) has fallen to the lowest level so far, and many people, many people disagree with (Tung) because he seems to us, he listen to the Chinese government. He pretends that the main control is under the Hong Kong people. But it is not,'' said Jessica.

Tung was appointed by the Chinese in 1992 and wants to stay in control. Others want to let him.

"One country, two systems is a new idea. It hasn't happened before, right?'' said Kenny. "So we should give them time to run this system smoothly.''

For some, it's hard to be patient.

"All of the legislative counselors always shouting, always shouting, but they can do nothing because in Hong Kong the (Chinese) government has too much power," said Benny Tong , 18.

Freedoms: "Hong Kong people are in great fear and afraid that their freedom will be lost like the mainland's."

Many believe that Hong Kong's leaders will always act knowing they could be overruled by China -- and that China does want to control Hong Kong.

"You have less freedom of speech here now since the hand-over. (The Chinese) don't want us talking about Taiwan or those places which Taiwan wants to rule," said Adelaide Yiu , 17, from Evangelical Community Church.

Some think the Chinese don't want them talking about anything controversial.

"People in mainland China do not enjoy the freedom, such as press freedom or speech freedom. And if there is some speech or some saying that the central government does not want you to see or know or hear, they will find a way to make sure you don't find out about it, or they will even kill you," said Tom Lau Yat Lui , 16, a student at Shau Kei Wan Government School. "Hong Kong people are in great fear and afraid that their freedom will be lost like the mainland's.''

Others seem less concerned, pointing to what they see as impartial reporting, at least, from the media.

"From the newspapers, the reporters always use the very harsh words to criticize the Chinese government. So it seems not a problem of the freedom of speech. The reporters can still use the words they like,'' Jessica said.

Moreover, some believe that if the Chinese government does interfere, foreigners will view it as tampering with the 50-year hand-over agreement, which makes Hong Kong controlled by but still separate from China in many ways.

"The court concludes that Hong Kong still (retains) the freedom of speech,'' Joshua said. "The people can express their feeling or opinions or something they don't like with the government. So I think the freedom of speech in Hong Kong remain unchanged.''

The future: "Hong Kong is having a role of helping China to adapt (to) the whole world."

Although Hong Kong still has 47 years as a Special Administrative Region, there is speculation about how Hong Kong's relationship with China will change when China joins the World Trade Organization. That's expected to happen later this year or early in 2001.

"China is going to enter the WTO. I think most of the business through Hong Kong is done," said Chun Kit Ngai , 16, a student at Tseun Wan Government School, who thinks China will bring business now conducted in Hong Kong back to the mainland because of cheaper labor costs.

Hong Kong residents hope that doesn't happen. Since 1985, China has been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, making up about 38 percent of Hong Kong's total trade, or about $134.8 billion in imports and exports in 1998.

Hong Kong is China's leading market for goods such as clothing, textile yarns and electrical machinery.

Without China's trade, Hong Kong could be headed for big trouble.

"In the past, many merchants from mainland China needed to come to Hong Kong to set up factories and set up companies. Hong Kong is the main importer of their goods. . . . But now after China enters the World Trade Organization, they will have increasing power by themselves, so they can get the orders from their own countries. No need to come to Hong Kong,'' Jessica said.

In addition to China's increased access to foreign markets, there is concern that Chinese technology is catching up to Hong Kong's.

"China is progressing, not only the economic, and also computer skills. Some cities like Shanghai also has a lot of very fast technology,'' Samantha said.

Despite the concerns, most youths agree: Right now, anyway, China needs Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong is having a role of helping China to adapt (to) the whole world,'' Benny said.

But will it last?

"Maybe someday Shanghai will be better than Hong Kong. There's always some people worry about that,'' Samantha said.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Kristen Schubert , 15 and Rachel Goertemiller , 15. REPORTERS: Tyler Smith , 13, and Courtney Sampson , 13.

History: Region has a storied past. Page D4

Profiles: Teens share their views about life in Hong Kong. Page D5