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The Story of Hong Kong: A Historical Overview

25-Jul-2024
The Story of Hong Kong: A Historical Overview

Hong Kong is a special administrative region (SAR) of China. Hong Kong is officially a special administrative region of the Republic of China. It is a city on the eastern Pearl River Delta in the south of China. Its area is 1,104 square kilometers (Hong Kong Area).

Is Hong Kong an independent country?

No, Hong Kong is not an independent country. On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law came into force.

Early History

The Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong to the British Empire through the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, ending the First Opium War. Hong Kong then became a colony of the British Crown. Britain also won the Second Opium War, causing the Qing Empire to cede Kowloon in 1860 while leasing the New Territories for 99 years from 1898.

Who was the owner of Hong Kong before China?

Apart from the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945 during the Pacific War, Hong Kong was a colony and later a dependent territory of the United Kingdom from 1841 to 1997.

Hong Kong and the Opium Wars

Hong Kong became a British colony through two wars: the First and Second Opium Wars. The first Opium War began in 1839. It is called the 'Opium War' because one of the main reasons for it was: The British were smuggling opium from their Indian colonies into Chinese ports against the wishes of the Chinese government.

Britain had controlled Hong Kong Island since 1842. Whereas Japan had its own control over it during World War II. It became a busy trading port and its economy boomed after becoming a manufacturing center in the 1950s. People fleeing instability, poverty, or persecution in China began moving to the region.

So, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong holds the status as a special administrative region from its history as a former British colony.

Hong Kong vs. Mainland China: What's the Difference?

In the year 1997, Britain handed over Hong Kong to China in 1997, Hong Kong remains economically independent from China. Actually, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. This allows Hong Kong to enjoy a separate economic and governance system under the principle of one country, two systems.

Under an agreement signed in 1984, Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997. According to this agreement, even after becoming a part of China, Hong Kong was to have autonomy for 50 years except in foreign and defence matters. Because of this, Hong Kong has its own legal system and boundaries.

What is the Capital of Hong Kong?

Victoria is the current capital of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Does Hong Kong have a different culture from China?

The majority of Hong Kong citizens are bilingual. The official business language of Hong Kong is English. The population is 98% Chinese and 1.5% European. While the population is predominantly Chinese, the culture of Hong Kong is very different from that of China.

Is Hong Kong's currency different from China's?

Yes, the currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar and it is different from China. Hong Kong has its own economy and currency. In short, the Hong Kong dollar is denoted as HKD. The Hong Kong dollar is divided into 100 cents, and each 10 cents is called a "HoH".

China Vs Hong Kong Economy

Hong Kong has been a centre of trade and finance for long. 93.4% of its GDP in 2022 came from the services sector. The 18 service sectors include services related to travel, trade, finance and transportation. For 2022, Hong Kong's annual GDP growth was -3.5% while that of mainland China was 3%.

In 2021, Hong Kong's GDP was equal to 2.1% of that of mainland China, down from 18.4% in 1997, when it returned to Chinese rule.

If we look globally, China's economy is the second largest economy in the world, behind only the United States.

If we talk about Hong Kong on the world stage, it is the world's fourth-largest global financial centre, ninth-largest exporter and eighth-largest importer. Its currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most traded currency in the world.

Some features of Hong Kong's economy are as follows - Low tax rates, free trade, and limited government interference.

Government Structure in Hong Kong

The Chief Executive is the head of the territory and head of the government in Hong Kong. The Basic Law designates a system of governance led by a Chief Executive.

What is the process of electing the Chief Executive Officer in Hong Kong?

The Chief Executive Officer is elected by the Election Committee. Firstly a 1500-member electoral college consisting of individuals and bodies elected within 40 functional constituencies defined in the Basic Law. The winner is then appointed to the post by the Premier of the People's Republic of China. The Chief Executive is responsible for applying the Basic Law, signing bills and budgets, enforcing laws, deciding on government policies, and issuing executive orders.

The Umbrella Revolution

In 2014, from 26 September to 15 December, a protest was held against the "One Country Two System" principle. This protest was for the demand for a transparent election system. This movement lasted for 79 days. After which Hong Kong Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Protestors used umbrellas to protect themselves from the spray. And this is the reason why this movement was named Umbrella Movement.

Hopefully, this article covers every aspect of Hong Kong. From the historical background of Hong Kong to the present situation as a Special Administrative Region of China. However, the 50-year agreement with China will end in 2047. But only the coming time will tell how the relations between these two countries will be.

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