Hong Kong profile

Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China in 1997, following the expiration of the United Kingdom's 99-year lease on the New Territories region north of Hong Kong Island. This transition marked a significant moment in Hong Kong's history, ending British colonial rule.

Hong Kong is governed under the "one country, two systems" principle, with China promising Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and the maintenance of its economic and social systems for 50 years from the handover. However, Beijing retains the power to veto changes to the political system, which has frustrated pro-democracy forces due to the slow pace of political reform.

Hong Kong's administrative center is located in Tamar, with an area of 2,755 square kilometers. The official languages are Chinese and English, and the population is approximately 7.2 million. Hong Kong has a high life expectancy, with 82 years for men and 88 years for women. The current Chief Executive is John Lee, who took office in July 2022, and was the sole China-approved candidate in the 2022 Hong Kong Chief Executive election.

John Lee previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force and is known for his hardline stance against Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp and his key role in suppressing dissent. His election is viewed as a move by Beijing to further integrate Hong Kong with the mainland. Hong Kong is home to numerous major Asian media organizations, has a thriving film industry, and is a center for broadcasting and publishing. While Hong Kong's media maintains active editorial autonomy, media watchdogs have expressed concerns about growing influence from the mainland.

Key historical events in Hong Kong include: 214 BC, when the Qin Dynasty incorporated Hong Kong into China; 1841, when China ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain after the First Opium War; 1898, when China leased the New Territories and 235 islands to Britain for 99 years; and 1997, when sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to China. Since then, Hong Kong has experienced the 2014 “Occupy Central” movement and the 2019 protests against the extradition bill. In 2021, Beijing modified Hong Kong's electoral system, further limiting directly elected seats in the Legislative Council and requiring all candidates to be vetted and approved by a Beijing-appointed committee.