Foreign relations of Hong Kong

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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 other aspects, including economic and commercial relations, and customs control. 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 (HKETOs) 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 partners 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.

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

The Hong Kong Government has also a liaison office in Beijing, and an HKETO at Guangzhou, Guangdong. A few more HKETOs will be set up in cities of 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. Permanent residents of Hong Kong with PRC nationality hold a different type of passport, called the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, which is different from that for PRC citizens in Mainland China. Residents of Hong Kong and China need a passport-like document (the "Home Return Permit" for Hong Kong residents and the exit endorsement for Chinese residents) to cross the Hongkongese-Chinese border. Visitors from other countries and regions not participting in waiver programme are required to apply for visas directly to the Immigration Department of Hong Kong.

International organisation participation

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Asian Development Bank Bank for International Settlements Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Associate) Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering International Chamber of Commerce International Confederation of Free Trade Unions International Hydrographic Organization International Maritime Organization (Associate) International Monetary Fund

International Olympic Committee International Organization for Standardization (Correspondent) Interpol (Sub-Bureau) Universal Postal Union Venerable Order of Saint John (Associated Body) World Confederation of Labour World Customs Organization World Meteorological Organization World Tourism Organization (Associate) World Trade Organization

Overseas representation in Hong Kong

See also: List of diplomatic missions 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 have been renamed consulates. Owing to Hong Kong's economic importance, and the large number of British passport holders, the British Consulate-General [1] is the largest of its kind in the world and larger than many embassies.

Most countries maintain consulates in Hong Kong. However, despite their name, these consulates are not subordinate to their country's embassy to the PRC in Beijing. For example, the British Consulate-General, Hong Kong and Macao is directly subordinate to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK rather than the British embassy in the Chinese capital. The Consul-General of the United States, likewise, holds ambassadorial rank, and reports to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs in the U.S. Department of State; in contrast, the U.S. Consuls-General posted to Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang report to the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing who is directly subordinate to the U.S. ambassador.

Relations with Taiwan

From 2010, the relationship between the territory and Taiwan is managed through the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) and Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (ECCC). Meanwhile, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office is a de facto mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Hong Kong.

See also

• Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China
• Hong Kong – United States relations
• Foreign relations of Macau
• List of diplomatic missions in Hong Kong

References

• CIA - The World Factbook 2006

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC
• Protocol Division of Hong Kong Government
• Office of the Commissioner of PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong
• Office of the Commissioner of PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao