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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Hong Kong is spread across the southeast coast of China, east at the mouth of the Pearl River, bordering Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province. It consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, with a total area of 1,092 sq km. Hong Kong has been a Chinese territory since ancient times.

Hong Kong had been occupied by Britain since the Opium War in 1840. According to the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong signed on December 19, 1984, the two governments held a hand-over ceremony on July 1, 1997, announcing the resumption of sovereignty by China over Hong Kong. Thus the common, long-cherished wish of the Chinese people to recover Hong Kong was fulfilled. Meanwhile the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the PRC was formally established. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, adopted in April 1990 at the Third Session of the Seventh National People's Congress, came into effect. The Basic Law makes clear and definite specifications on a high degree of autonomy and the political, economic, cultural and educational systems of the HKSAR.

High Degree of Autonomy: The Chinese government carries out the basic policies of "one country, two systems", "administration of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong people" and "a high degree of autonomy". "One country, two systems" refers to the fact that in China, a unified country, the mainland practices the socialist system, and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years. "Administration of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong people" means that the HKSAR is administered by the Hong Kong people on their own, and the central authorities shall not send officials to the HKSAR to fill local official posts. "A high degree of autonomy" means that apart from foreign and national defense affairs that should be administered by the central authorities, the HKSAR shall fully enjoy the power of decision over matters within its autonomous jurisdiction, including executive, legislative, independent judicial and final adjudication powers.

The high degree of autonomy of the HKSAR has the following features:
1. The central authorities cannot interfere in affairs within the scope of autonomy of the HKSAR.
2. The HKSAR government shall have the final say on matters within its autonomous jurisdiction as prescribed in the Basic Law, calling for no approval by the central authorities.
3. The government of the HKSAR may, within the limits prescribed by the Basic Law, choose its own means of exercising its functions and powers.