Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations
Hong Kong |
United Kingdom |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Consulate-General Brian Davidson |
Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations are the
History
The United Kingdom and the group of offshore islands in the southeastern
The stability, security, and predictability of British law and government enabled Hong Kong to flourish as a centre for international trade.[3] Localisation of tertiary institutions, the Hong Kong government and the independent Judiciary in the run-up to the 1997 Handover of sovereignty, caused a progressive retirement of resident British citizens in Hong Kong Civil Service into a minority.
Bilateral agreements
Articles 151, 153 and 155 of Hong Kong Basic Law permits Hong Kong to conclude non-military bilateral agreements with foreign countries, while articles 152 permits Hong Kong joining international organisations.[4]
Both Hong Kong and the UK are full members of
Political relationships
Articles 82 and 92 of
As co-signatory of the Joint Declaration with the People's Republic of China, the UK retains an enduring commitment to Hong Kong after the handover in 1997, including regular semi-annual reports on Hong Kong to the
Diplomatic missions
The
Trade and investment
A number of UK companies are based in Hong Kong, with the territory remaining an important springboard to the Greater China market. Over 300 UK-based companies have regional headquarters or offices in Hong Kong, and many more are expected to come, to serve Hong Kong's domestic market.[10]
UK's commercial interests in Hong Kong are extensive and range from banking, accounting, legal, engineering and information technology services, to retail and general trading, with book value of investment of more than £33 billion in 2011. [citation needed] UK exported more than £5 billion in goods, a 20.5% increase on the previous year from 2011, making Hong Kong the UK's 13th largest export destination and its third biggest in Asia Pacific, after China and India. Around 4.2% of UK exports to Hong Kong are re-exported to Mainland China. [citation needed]
Hong Kong companies have cumulative investments in the UK of more than £25 billion in 2011.[11]
Cultural
The
British Consulate-General estimated a range between 25,000 and 30,000 UK expats based in Hong Kong in 2009. UK expat in Hong Kong includes decreasing number of settled British citizens due to waning colonial privileges, and increasing number of resourceful professionals varying pedigree known as FILTH (Failed In London, Try Hong Kong) who could adapt and aware of Hong Kong culture.[14] Hong Kong Census 2011 recorded that over 33,000 British citizens resided in Hong Kong.[15][16]
Hong Kong is one of the main source markets for UK boarding schools and universities in terms of overseas born students – with more and more Hong Kong parents sending their children to UK boarding schools at an early stage. On the other way, a network of 20 internationals schools in Hong Kong run by the
Hong Kong is one of the annual hosts of the Commonwealth sports calendar, hosting the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes every late October.
Tourism
Hong Kong is Britain's 38th most important market for volume of visits and 27th for the amount spent by visitors as of 2013.[17] Two-fifths of Hong Kong visitors to the UK are British citizens and Hong Kongers visiting friends and relatives and on holidays.[18]
The UK Home Office permits
Participants receive the same treatment as Hong Kong permanent residents in all matters concerning the application of laws, regulations and practices regarding health and working conditions. This is a 24-month program – one of the longest offered by either government.
Causeway Bay Books disappearances
Between October and December 2015, five staff of
on 30 December 2015.The
Concern on Lee Bo's case was further stressed in Hammond's report on Hong Kong for the second half of 2015.[26]
See also
- History of Hong Kong under British rule
- British Chinese
- Hong Kong people in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ Vassiliou, John (2020-07-07). "Briefing: Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) status". Free Movement. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ISBN 0802713610, pg. 370.
- ISBN 978-1-84511-419-0, pg. 57.
- ^ "Hong Kong Basic Law Chapter VII : External Affairs". Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ^ Hong Kong Basic Law Chapter IV : Political Structure
- ^ Hong Kong Basic Law Chapter IV : Political Structure - Section 6 : Public Servants
- ^ FCO Six monthly reports on Hong Kong
- ^ World priority - Supporting British nationals in Hong Kong
- ^ Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office London
- ^ Hong Kong The Regional Business Hub - From around the world, November 2013, pg. 3
- ^ VisitBritain - Hong Kong Market and Trade Profile, November 2013, pg. 12 Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Archived from the originalon 2007-04-25. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ "Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by foreign country of birth (Table 1.3)". Office for National Statistics. September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ The Britons who stayed behind (and thrived) in Hong Kong
- ^ A122 - Population by Nationality and Duration of Residence in Hong Kong, 2011
- ^ A105-Population by Nationality, 2001, 2006 and 2011
- ^ Visit Britain - Insight and Statistics on Hong Kong Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ VisitBritain - Hong Kong Market and Trade Profile, November 2013, pg. 42, Table 10-5 Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ UK Border Agency – Tier 5 (Youth mobility scheme)
- ^ UK welcomes Hong Kong to join Youth Mobility Scheme
- ^ Guidance Notes: Application for Working Holiday Visa for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)” ID(E) 940A, pg. 5
- ^ Hong Kong Working Holiday Scheme – United Kingdom
- ^ 欧阳成 (4 January 2016). "英国对港书店工作人员失踪报道"深表关切"" (in Chinese). BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ 葉靖斯,歐陽誠 (5 January 2016). "香港銅鑼灣書店案:中英展開外交交鋒" (in Chinese). BBC.
- ^ "Abductions in HK would breach promises by Beijing: Britain". EJ Insight. 7 January 2016.
- ^ Six monthly report on Hong Kong: July to December 2015 (PDF), Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Government of the United Kingdom, 11 February 2016
External links
- British Consulate-General in Hong Kong Official Site
- Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (London) Official Site of HKETO in London
- The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong