Everything about Foreign Relations Of Hong Kong totally explained
Hong Kong is a
special administrative region (SAR) of the
People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the Basic Law of Hong Kong, its diplomatic relations and defence are the responsibility of the
Central People's Government of the PRC. Nonetheless, Hong Kong has retained considerable
autonomy in all aspects, including economic and commercial relations, customs control, except diplomatic relations and defence. Hong Kong continues to be an active, independent member of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) and the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the name of
Hong Kong, China.
Overview
Hong Kong was under
British rule before
1 July 1997. Prior to the implementation of the
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 enacted by the
British Parliament, Hong Kong represented its interests abroad through the
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) and via a special office in the British Embassies or High Commissions, but the latter has ceased after the sovereignty of Hong Kong was
transferred to the PRC and became a special administrative region (SAR) of the PRC in 1997. At present, the
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices under the
Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in countries that are the major trading partner of Hong Kong, including
Japan,
Canada,
Australia,
Singapore, the
United Kingdom,
Belgium,
Switzerland, the
United States and the
European Union. These offices serve as the official representative of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR in these countries. Its major functions include facilitating trade negotiations and handling trade related matters, inter-government relations with foreign governments; the promoting of investment in Hong Kong; and liaising with the media and business community. The Hong Kong Government has also set up the
Hong Kong Tourism Board with offices in other countries and regions to promote tourism. Other countries, likewise, have set up consulates-general or consulates in Hong Kong that are subordinate to the
embassy in
Beijing, the capital of the PRC.
The Hong Kong Government has also a liaison office in
Beijing, and an HKETO at
Guangzhou,
Guangdong. A few more HKETO will be set up in cities of the mainland China in the future. The Central People's Government of the PRC also maintains a liaison office in Hong Kong. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a representative office in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious challenges in controlling transit of
heroin and
methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduit for
money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people.
Hong Kong has its own immigration policy and administration. PRC citizens who are
permanent residents of Hong Kong hold a different type of passports, called the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, which is different from that for PRC citizens in
mainland China. Residents of Hong Kong and mainland China need a
passport-like document (the
Home Return Permit for Hong Kong residents and the
exit endorsement for mainland residents) to cross the Hong Kong-mainland China
border. Visitors from other countries and regions with no waiver programme are required to apply for visas directly through the Immigration Department of Hong Kong.
International organization participation
Overseas representation in Hong Kong
When Hong Kong was a
British colony,
Commonwealth member states, unlike other countries, were represented in Hong Kong by Commissioners. However, since the 1997 handover, they've been represented by
Consulates, subordinate to their embassies in
Beijing. Owing to Hong Kong's economic importance, and the large number of British passport holders, the British Consulate-General
(External Link
) is the largest of its kind in the world and larger than many embassies.
Further Information
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