What is interesting about Hong Kong and why does it have a special status in China, and why do residents have two passports?

Hong Kong is one of the most unusual places in the world due to its history and modern status.

Hong Kong is legally part of China, but it has a great deal of autonomy, making it effectively more independent from the Chinese government.

Because of this life in Hong Kong, there may be some peculiarities that are unique to it.

Briefly

• Hong Kong was not always part of China
  What are the special features of Hong Kong as part of China?
  What makes Hong Kong unique
  How many passports are there in Hong Kong
  How to get from Hong Kong to China and vice versa
  Everyone is concerned about the future of Hong Kong

Hong Kong was not always part of China

▸ In 1842 Hong Kong Island became a British colony after the First Opium War.

Before this, Hong Kong had an unremarkable history. It was mostly farmers and fishermen, and the territory belonged to the Qing Empire, which also owned all modern Chinese.

▸ In 1860 Britain gained control of the Kowloon Peninsula after the Second Opium War, which became part of Hong Kong.

▸ In 1898 A treaty was signed between the Qing Empire and Great Britain, according to which Hong Kong leased to British for 99 yearsInterestingly, Great Britain never paid rent.

During British rule, Hong Kong experienced rapid development, especially after World War II, becoming an international manufacturing and financial services centre.

▸ In 1984 A Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed, according to which Hong Kong was to be handed over to China in 1997, but with little or no autonomy.

▸ In 1997 Hong Kong was handed over to China. Since then, it has been called the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This name is also used for Macau.

◦ Back ◬

What are the special features of Hong Kong as part of China?

The status of “special administrative region” means that Hong Kong has a very high degree of autonomy.

It has its own executive, legislative and legislative branches of government, its own police force, currency (Hong Kong dollars), passport and visa policy. China controls only matters related to defense and foreign policy..

This leads to a cultural and ideological gap between Hong Kong and China. Hong Kong, unlike China, strives for openness, and its residents do not accept any restrictions that try to connect with China.

You can choose any area, and there will be a huge difference between Hong Kong and China. For example, Hong Kong has no value added tax, while China charges VAT from 3% to 16%. Hong Kong is also known for its high crime and corruption levels.

According to the non-profit organization Transparency International, in 2023 Hong Kong was ranked 14th in the world for corruption (the higher the rank, the lower the level of corruption).

Even after joining China, Hong Kong’s government has maintained policies that promote business development in its relations.

This has led to Hong Kong being home to all the world’s largest companies. Even large Chinese companies such as Lenovo and Tencent, although based in China, have large branches in Hong Kong. And Lenovo is registered here.

◦ Back ◬

What makes Hong Kong unique

In total, Hong Kong includes 262 islands, also called the New Territories. The main islands are Hong Kong and Kowloon.

As a result, there are 7.5 million people living in all territories. About half of the population has some form of British citizenship, and 3.4 million overseas Hong Kong residents are British subjects.

Hong Kong itself is essentially one continuous city, which It ranks fourth in the world in terms of population density. This is partly because Hong Kong’s residents occupy less than 25% of the land area. Much of Hong Kong is undeveloped because it is mountains, hills, and forests.

Hong Kong ranks first in the tallest skyscrapers rankingThere are 554 skyscrapers in the city, each 150 meters high.

In addition, Hong Kong inherited left-hand traffic from the British.

◦ Back ◬

How many passports are there in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Passport

Hong Kong residents can have dual citizenship, unlike residents of the People’s Republic of China. However, a Hong Kong Chinese person can still be considered a Chinese citizen even after acquiring foreign citizenship.

Permanent residents of Hong Kong enjoy all the rights of Hong Kong. They are mainly Chinese who were born in Hong Kong or have lived here for at least 7 years.

Non-permanent residents of Hong Kong are those who do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong and cannot vote or apply for a Hong Kong passport, but can work and travel within the country.

All permanent residents have a Hong Kong passport, which is different from the Chinese passport but is recognized in all countries, including China. They do not have regular Chinese passports.

British Overseas Passport BN(O)

Hong Kong residents born before July 1, 1997 were eligible to receive British Overseas Passport BN(O).

This passport does not entitle you to British citizenship. But it does allow you to vote in elections, obtain British citizenship through a simplified system, serve in the British armed forces and use consular services in other countries.

Previously, the BN(O) was often used for travel because it allows visa-free entry to 118 countries. But now A Hong Kong passport allows free travel to 166 countries.that’s why BN(O) is not so popular.

In addition, the BN(O) registration was completed on 1 July 1997. This means that if a person was born on 30 June 1997 but his parents did not apply for BN(O), he will never be able to receive it again.

Despite this, about 2.9 million Hong Kong residents hold BN(O) and effectively hold two passports.

◦ Back ◬

How to get from Hong Kong to China and vice versa

permission to return to homeland

Although Hong Kong is technically part of China, there are restrictions on its residents visiting mainland China.

Hong Kong permanent residents cannot travel to China with a Hong Kong passport. Instead, they must obtain a “Home Return Permit,” a plastic ID card that can be obtained in Hong Kong or Macau.

Having a Hong Kong passport does not guarantee that you will be granted a show permit in China.There are known cases where China has requested permission to oppose.

Chinese residents also need to obtain a permit to visit Hong Kong, although these are different documents depending on the reason for travel.

◦ Back ◬

Everyone is concerned about the future of Hong Kong

Hong Kong was given the status of “special administrative region” in 1997 on its 50th anniversary. In 2047, Hong Kong will come under full Chinese rule, and many are worried about what will happen next.

No documents specify how Hong Kong will be governed or by whom after 2047.

Many experts believe that Hong Kong will not be able to maintain its autonomy. Somehow, the pandemic will integrate it into China. This could be either partial integration or a complete transition, which many Hong Kong residents do not want.

At the state level, such theories are not yet being implemented.

◦ Back ◬

Even more interesting, to broaden the horizon 🙌

▸ This is the most unusual station in Japan, where there is no entrance and exit. But it does have one important function
▸ A Big Analysis of the Metro. Why Ours Is the Most Beautiful, But in the US It’s Getting Scary
▸ These Incredible Skyscrapers Were Built 800 Years Ago in Italy. Where Did They Go and Where Did They Come From?