Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The full name is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, referred to as Hong Kong SAR. It consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories (including Lantau Island and more than 230 islands). Located in South China, east of the Pearl River Estuary, it faces Shenzhen to the north across the Shenzhen River, and Macao to the west across the sea, with the South China Sea in the south.

Since 1842, the above areas had been invaded by the British successively. On July 1, 1997, the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in accordance with the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. According to the provisions of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong is a local administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, directly under the Central People’s Government. The National People’s Congress authorizes Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy in all affairs except diplomacy and national defense, including administrative power, legislative power, independent judicial power, and final adjudication power, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law.

The current political system of Hong Kong will remain unchanged for 50 years, and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens will be upheld under of the rule of law and an independent judiciary. There are 18 districts in Hong Kong. According to the Basic Law, only non-political regional organizations are established in these 18 districts. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the head of the Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong government. He is accountable to the Central People’s Government and the Special Administrative Region in accordance with the Basic Law, and responsible for the implementation of the Basic Law and the leading of the Special Administrative Region government according to the law. The Chief Executive must follow the instructions issued by the Central People’s Government on matters related to Hong Kong’s Basic Law when exercising his powers. He is elected locally in Hong Kong and appointed by the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China for a term of 5 years.

The Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an organization that assists the Chief Executive in making decisions. Its members are appointed by the Chief Executive from among principal government officials, legislators and public figures. The Legislative Council is the legislature of Hong Kong. It is elected in accordance with the Basic Law and exercises its functions and powers accordingly, including enacting, amending and repealing laws in accordance with the Basic Law and the statutory procedures, reviewing and approving budgets based on government proposals, and approving taxes and public expenditures, etc. The Special Administrative Region may formulate laws applicable to the region in various aspects including civil, criminal, commercial and litigation procedures in accordance with the Basic Law.

The laws enacted by the Legislative Council must be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for the record. After consulting the Basic Law Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress can send back any regulations enacted by the legislature of the Special Administrative Region that it considers not complying with the provisions of the Basic Law on matters governed by the central government and related to the relationship between the central government and the Special Administrative Region without modification. The laws sent back immediately become invalid. The total number of seats in the Legislative Council is 70, with 35 seats each for functional constituencies and geographical constituencies elected through direct elections. The courts at all levels are the judicial organs of Hong Kong Region and they exercise judicial power independently in accordance with the law. Judicial organs such as Court of Final Appeal, High Court, District Court, Magistrates Court and other specialized courts are established and active in Hong Kong.