Under the Basic Law,the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is exclusively in charge of its internal affairs,whilst the central government of China is responsible for its foreign affairs and defence. As a separate customs territory,Hong Kong maintains and develops relations with foreign states and regions,and plays an active role in such international organisations as World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in its own right under the name of Hong Kong,China. Hong Kong participates in 16 projects of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China are one of four types of province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China directly under the control of its Central People's Government,being integral areas of the country. As a region,they possess the highest degree of autonomy from China's central government. However,despite the relative autonomy that the Central People's Government offers the special administrative regions,the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee remains capable of enforcing laws for the special administrative regions.
The Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents,also colloquially referred to as a Home Return Permit or Home Visit Permit,is a travel document to Mainland China issued to permanent residents of or Chinese nationals who settled in Hong Kong and Macau. The permit is issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China through China Travel Service sub-branches in Hong Kong and Macau and allows holders to travel freely to mainland China.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,since the handover in 1997,the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English,the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition,unlike Chinese passport which can be issued by Chinese diplomatic missions abroad,the Immigration Department of Hong Kong is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.
Under the Basic Law,Macau's diplomatic relations and defence are the responsibility of the central government of China. Except diplomatic relations and defence,nonetheless,Macau has retained considerable autonomy in all aspects,including economic and commercial relations,customs control.
A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of diplomatic mission,it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country,usually an embassy. The term "consulate" may refer not only to the office of a consul,but also to the building occupied by the consul and the consul's staff. The consulate may share premises with the embassy itself.
The handover of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China was at midnight on 20 December 1999. This event ended 442 years of Portuguese rule in the former settlement,which began in 1557.
The Consulate General of the United States,Hong Kong and Macau,represents the United States in Hong Kong and Macau.
There are 122 diplomatic missions in Hong Kong,of which 61 are consulates-general and 61 are consulates and six officially recognised bodies in Hong Kong. As Hong Kong has the status of a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China,some consuls-general in Hong Kong report directly to their respective foreign ministries,rather than to their Embassies in Beijing.
The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao represents Canada in the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China. As Hong Kong was linked to the Commonwealth during British administration,Canada's mission was called the Canadian Commission before the transfer of sovereignty to China on July 1,1997. Since 1980,the Head of Mission in Hong Kong has also served as Consul-General to Macau.
The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 15 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit or Visa,which depending on the traveller's nationality,may be required to travel to,enter,and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 145 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days,to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for more than 1 month.
There are 15 consular missions in Macau,of which three are consulates-general,two is a consular office and ten are honorary consuls.
A de facto embassy is an office or organisation that serves de facto as an embassy in the absence of normal or official diplomatic relations among countries,usually to represent nations which lack full diplomatic recognition,regions or dependencies of countries,or territories over which sovereignty is disputed. In some cases,diplomatic immunity and extraterritoriality may be granted.
The British National (Overseas) passport,commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport,is a British passport for people with British National (Overseas) status. BN(O) status was created in 1987 after the enactment of Hong Kong Act 1985,whose holders are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Overseas Territories citizens until 30 June 1997 and had registered as BN(O)s.
Canada–Hong Kong relations refers to international relations between Canada and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. Canada and Hong Kong share a legal and political history as parts of the former British Empire,and Canada continues to maintain strong relations with Hong Kong. The Canadian government strongly supports Hong Kong's autonomy under Chinese sovereignty in accordance with the "one country,two systems" principle as provided for in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law,Hong Kong's de facto constitution.
Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations are the international relations between the post-colonial Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 to 1941 and again from 1945 to 1997 when sovereignty was handed over to China. UK policy towards Hong Kong is underpinned by its substantial commercial interests,and fulfilling obligation as the other signatory of Sino–British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong,in addition to support Hong Kong's mini-constitution,the Basic Law,and in accordance with China's policy of observing "one country,two systems". Hong Kong is also home to roughly 2.9 million British nationals,350,000 of which hold an active British passport,giving it one of the largest populations of British passport holders in the world behind only the Anglosphere Commonwealth realms and the United States.
The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Beijing is the chief diplomatic mission of the United Kingdom in the People's Republic of China. It is one of Britain's largest overseas embassies. It is located at 11 Guanghua Road,in the Chaoyang District. The current British Ambassador to China is Caroline Wilson.
The Australian Consulate General Hong Kong represents the Commonwealth of Australia in Hong Kong,and is also accredited to Macau. As Hong Kong was linked to the Commonwealth during British administration,Australia's diplomatic presence was exercised by an Australian Commission,until 1 January 1986,when it was renamed the Australian Consulate-General. From 1946 to 1972,Australia was represented by the Australian Trade Commission.
Deng Zhonghua is a Chinese government official. He was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) in 2018.
