Which European empire controlled Hong Kong until 1997?

PanhandleGuy, didn't have a choice it was leased for 99 years.

Actually/officially it was the United Kingdom in 1997, not the British Empire.

this is for the ones who got this question wrong

Indeed, those opium wars: the kind of wars you don't mention in upper class company, given how particularly vital a certain crop was, and immensely profitable to the foundational strength and continuance of the once mighty British empire.

Player Jellybean, some countries had no choice, the British took a permanent lease on their land.