The British colony that was returned to the Chinese in 1997 was Hong Kong.

Hong Kong had been under British rule since 1842 when it was ceded to the British Empire following the First Opium War. However, in 1984, the British and Chinese governments signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which laid out the terms for the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong back to China in 1997.

The handover took place on July 1, 1997, and marked the end of British colonial rule in Hong Kong. Under the principle of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong was designated a Special Administrative Region of China, with a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign affairs and defense.

Since the handover, there have been concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms, particularly in the wake of the 2019 anti-government protests and the imposition of a controversial national security law by Beijing. Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have raised alarm about what they see as a crackdown on dissent and increasing interference by the Chinese government in the city's affairs.

The future of Hong Kong remains uncertain, with ongoing tensions between pro-democracy forces and the Chinese government. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely and advocate for the protection of Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms.

For more information on the history of Hong Kong and its handover to China, you can visit the official website of the Hong Kong government at https://www.gov.hk/en/about/history/index.htm or the British government's official website at https://www.gov.uk/government/world/hong-kong.

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