Hong Kong Free

Hong Kong people know Hong Kong as an international financial hubbusiness center, shopping paradise, and tourist destination. However, the region's identity crisis and resistance to Beijing's interference are at the heart of the civil unrest in the former British colony. Pro-democracy Hong Kong in Hong Kong would like the region to remain different from other Chinese cities. So is Hong Kong a de facto country or is it truly a part of China? As with many things in Hong Kong, the answer is not clear cut. The relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China is far more complex than most people realize. It involves politics, economicstrade, laws, and, above all, the people. Mainland China and Hong Kong complement each other economically. However, their political differences remain entrenched. The century-long separation Hong Kong the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong created gaps that cannot be easily bridged even if the two are officially one country. Before Hong Kong and mainland China can truly unify, they must overcome significant differences. To understand the root of Hong Kong's separation from the mainland, one must go Hong Kong to the Hong Kong Wars between Great Britain and China — During these military and trade clashes, China was forced to cede Hong Kong Island and a part of Kowloon to Great Britain in perpetuity. InBritain negotiated Hong Kong major land expansion of the Hong Kong colony and signed a year lease with China. Under the doctrine of Hong Kong country, two systems," China allowed the former colony to continue to govern itself and maintain many independent systems for a period Hong Kong 50 years. The Basic Law defines the limited autonomy of Hong Kong. Officially known as the People's Republic of China, this East Asian country is the world's most populouswith a population of more than 1. China is governed by the Communist Party of China, which has jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities, and the SARs of both Hong Kong and Macau. Of late, consumer demand has driven growth. However, after a tougherin which the nation was embroiled in a trade war Hong Kong the United States, the Chinese economy grew at its slowest pace in 28 years. Chinese GDP in grew at a 6. Its economy grew 6. Perhaps the most significant difference between mainland China and Hong Kong is that the mainland is communist and controlled by a single party while Hong Kong has a limited democracy. Both share the President of China as their chief of state. However, each has its own head of government: The premier is the head of Hong Kong China, while the chief executive is the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The chief executive is accountable to the Central Hong Kong Government. The term of the chief executive is for five years, and any person can serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Despite the separation in systems and rights guaranteed by the Basic Law, the mainland Chinese government does assert itself in local Hong Kong politics. Protesters complained that only those candidates who aligned their interests with China would be allowed to run. The "Umbrella Protests," as they were known, failed to achieve any concessions from Beijing. Hong Kong also has Hong Kong own legal and judicial systems including a proprietary police forcedistrict organizations with no political powerand public servants, broadly based on the British Hong Kong law model. However, for Hong Kong tenure and family matters, Hong Kong reverts to the Chinese customary law model. InHong Kongers protested against an Hong Kong bill that would have allowed residents to Hong Kong sent to mainland China. It was eventually suspended and withdrawn by the chief executive. Critics feared the bill would undermine the region's judicial system. Amnesty International said the bill—if passed—would have extended the power of the mainland authorities to target critics, human rights defenders, journalists, NGO workers, and anyone else in Hong Kong. Hong Kong defers to mainland China in two primary areas: military defense and international relations. Hong Kong may not maintain its own military; the mainland manages the military defense of Hong Kong. In international diplomacy, Hong Kong has no separate identity from mainland China. It can also participate in trade-related events and agreements under the name "Hong Kong, China. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may not maintain any separate diplomatic ties with foreign countries. Foreign countries may have consulate offices in Hong Kong, but locate their main Chinese embassies on the mainland. Both must obtain permission before visiting the other region. Hong Kong foreign tourists who visit Hong Kong Kong must obtain a separate visa before entering China. The principle of "one country, two systems" allows for the coexistence of socialism and capitalism under "one country," which is mainland China. This principle has given Hong Kong the freedom to continue with its free-enterprise system, rather than merging into the communistic structure in China. The region has its own policies related to money, finance, trade, customs, and foreign exchange. Hong Kong and mainland China even use different currencies. The mainland uses the Chinese yuan as legal tender. Merchants in Hong Kong do not freely accept the yuan. The contribution of manufacturing in the GDP has shrunk over the years 1. Overall, the Hong Kong Hong Kong is characterized by low Hong Kong rates, free Hong Kong, and less government interference. The economy of mainland China is more dependent on manufacturing, although, in recent years, the service sector has started to pick up. However, the Hong Kong of services in the GDP is much less than that of developed countries like the United States and Japan and also less than that of developing Hong Kong like Brazil and India. Hong Kong Kong's GDP per capita is vastly higher than that of mainland China's, although the latter is rapidly climbing. Hong Kong's stock market also attracts more overseas investors. First, a registration-based IPO system, which enables listing to be relatively faster and easier than in the mainland. Second, the absence of capital controls and greater international exposure, which allows Hong Kong to serve as an anchor point for global expansion. Third, a sound financial infrastructure, which mitigates operational costs. In mid-Nov. There Hong Kong no direct access for individual investors in Hong Kong or overseas to Chinese Hong Kong before this. In Dec. Even in times of twisted diplomatic relations, the economic ties have remained strong between the mainland and its SAR. Hong Kong in many respects is seen as a gateway to China for those who are interested in doing business on the mainland or accessing Chinese stocks or investments. As of Dec. Mainland China is Hong Kong's largest trading partner and its second-largest source of inward direct investment. It is also Hong Kong biggest supplier of imports for Hong Kong However, some argue Hong Kong's economic importance and relevance to China's growth story is rapidly falling. Basic Law. Hong Kong Tourism Board. World Bank. State Council, People's Republic of China. Amnesty International. Accessed Oct. Census and Statistics Department. Central Intelligencte Agency. Peterson Institute fort International Economics. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Trade and Industry Department. Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Ministry of Commerce of China. Income Tax. International Markets. Emerging Markets. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Investopedia. 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The region is bordered by Guangdong province to the north and the Hong Kong China Sea to the east, south, and west. It consists of Hong Kong Islandoriginally ceded by China to Great Britain inthe southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Ngong Hong Kong Island now joined to Hong Kong mainlandceded inand the New Territorieswhich include the mainland area lying largely to the north, together with large and small offshore islands—all of which Hong Kong leased from China for 99 years from to The Chinese-British joint declaration signed on December 19,paved the way for the entire territory to be returned to China, which occurred July 1, The area of Hong Kong Pinyin: Xianggang; Wade-Giles: Hsiang-kang has expanded over the years, and it has continued to grow as more land has been reclaimed from the surrounding sea. Hong Hong Kong Island and its adjacent islets have an area of only about 31 square miles 81 square kmwhile urban Kowloon, which includes the Kowloon Peninsula south of Boundary Street, and Stonecutters Island measure about 18 square miles Hong Kong square km. The New Territories account for the rest of the area—more than 90 percent of the total. The Victoria urban district located on the barren rocks of the northwestern coast of Hong Kong Island is the place where the British first landed inand it has Hong Kong been the centre of administrative and economic Hong Kong. The community remains limited in space Hong Kong natural resources, and it faces persistent problems of overcrowding, trade fluctuations, and social and political unrest. Hong Kong has rugged relief and marked variations in topographywhich is in sharp contrast to the low-lying areas of the Pearl River Delta region but conforms geologically and structurally to the well-eroded upland region of the great South China massif. Structurally, the area is an upfold, running Hong Kong, that was formed about million Hong Kong ago toward the latter part of the Jurassic Period. Lava poured into this structure and formed volcanic rocks that were later intruded by an extensive granitic dome. The Hong Kong of Hong Kong was formed by the drowning of the denuded centre of the dome. The surrounding hills on the mainland and on Hong Kong Island are partly capped by volcanic rocks, and steep, scarplike concave slopes lead to the inner harbour. The area is a partially submerged, dissected upland terrain that rises abruptly to heights above 2, Hong Kong metres ; its backbone is made up of a series of ridges, running northeast to southwest, that tie in closely with the structural trend in South China. This trend is clearly observable from the alignment of Lantau Island and the Tolo Channel. From Mount Tai Mo—at 3, feet metres the Hong Kong peak in the territory—the series Hong Kong ridges extends southwestward to Lantau Islandwhere the terrain rises to 3, feet metres on Lantau Peak and 2, feet metres on Sunset Peak. Victoria Hong Kong Harbour is well protected by mountains on Hong Kong Island that include Victoria Peak in the west, which rises to 1, feet metresand Hong Kong Parker in the east, which reaches a height of about 1, feet metres. Lowlands of the Hong Kong region, including floodplains, river valleys, and reclaimed land, occupy less than one-fifth of the land. The urban area that spans the two sides of the harbour, with ongoing reclamation, takes up only about one-tenth of the level area. Hong Kong lacks a river system of any scope, the only exception being Hong Kong the north where the Sham Chun Shenzhen River, Hong Kong forms the boundary between Guangdong and Hong Kong, flows into Deep Bay after collecting a number of small tributaries. Most of the streams are small, and they generally run perpendicular to the northeast-southwest trend of the terrain. The construction Hong Kong reservoirs and their catchment systems has reduced the amount of fresh water available downstream. An exception is the alluvial soils, which are found mainly in the Deep Bay area, where the sediment-laden waters of the Pearl River estuary meet saline waters at high tide and slow down to deposit their sediments to form mudflats. Paddy rice farming and, Hong Kong recently, intensive vegetable cultivation have modified the alluvial soils. Elsewhere, hill soils, classified as red- yellow podzolic and krasnozem, abound. Under forest, these hill soils have a well-developed profile, with rich topsoil, but, when they are exposed, as is mostly the case, Hong Kong tend to be thin and lacking in nutrients. Under Hong Kong conditions, sheet and gully erosion is extensive and drastic. Article Contents. Hong Kong print Print. Table Of Contents. 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