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.

The flag of Hong Kong is actually brighter red (different shade of red)

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.