 |
The area constituting Hong
Kong is located on the southeast coast of China, east of the mouth of the Pearl
River and 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 Chinese territory since ancient times, and was occupied by
Britain after the Opium War of 1840. In accordance with the Sino-British Joint
Declaration on the Question of 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, and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, adopted in April 1990 at the Third Session of the Seventh NPC, 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.
|
|
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” in Hong Kong. “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; and “a high degree of autonomy” means that apart from foreign
and national defense affairs, which 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.
A
democratic political system is practiced in the HKSAR. Its major organs of
power are the Chief Executive, the
Government, the Legislative Council and the Court of Final Appeal. The
Chief Executive of the HKSAR shall be the head of the HKSAR, as well as the
head of the HKSAR government. His or her dual status gives him or her extensive
functions and powers. The Chief Executive shall be selected from among
residents of the HKSAR by election or through consultations held locally, and
be appointed by the Central Government. The term of office of the Chief
Executive shall be five years. He or she may serve for not more than two
consecutive terms.
A free
economic system is practiced in the HKSAR. The operation mechanisms of this
economic system are mainly manifested in the fields of finance, banking, trade,
industry and commerce, real estate, shipping and civil aviation. As a separate
customs territory, the HKSAR may, using the name “Hong Kong, China,” join the
WTO and other relevant international organizations and international trade
agreements.
The
HKSAR shall, on its own, work out policies on education, culture, science and
technology, medical care and sports. Non-governmental organizations in various
fields in the HKSAR may maintain and develop their relationships with relevant
organizations of other countries and regions, and with international
organizations. They also may participate in relevant activities in the name of
“Hong Kong, China.”
|
| In the four-odd years since its founding, the HKSAR
was affected by the Asian financial crisis and influenced by the global
economic depression. But under the leadership of the
first Chief Executive Tung Chee
Hwa (董建华), a series of problems and events which had great influence on Hong
Kong’s politics, economy and society were handled soundly by the HKSAR
government, safeguarding the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. Now Hong
Kong is still the center of international finance, trade, shipping, material
exchange and tourism and will continue to demonstrate its good future to the
other parts of the world.
 Donald
Tsang Yam Kuen(曾荫权),
the second chief executive of Hong Kong
SAR, born
October 7,
1944 has been the
Chief Executive of
Hong Kong since 2005. On
June 16,
2005, he was declared winner
as the only qualified candidate. He was
appointed by the
Central People's Government
as the Chief Executive on
June 21,
2005 following Tung Chee
Hwa’s resignation on March 25, 2005.
Tsang had been a civil servant for over
30 years.
Hong Kong's population was about 6.725 million at the end of 2001. The
population density is 6,250 people per square kilometer. Hong Kong has a large
foreign population of about 526,510.
|
