Former Crown colony of the British Empire, at the mouth of the Canton River, China, administered by a governor assisted by an executive and a legislative council. and returned to China on July 1, 1997. The religious history of Hong Kong is indissolubly connected with that of China. Ecclesiastically the colony was established as the Prefecture Apostolic of Hong Kong on April 22, 1841, and elevated a Vicariate Apostolic on October 4, 1874, and entrusted to the Seminary of Foreign Missions of Milan. The Vicariate was elevated to the diocese of Hong Kong on April 11, 1946. See also