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.
Hong Kong is administratively divided into 18 districts. Each district has a district council.
The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation is a Hong Kong wholly government-owned railway and land asset manager. It was established in 1982 under the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR),and to construct and operate other new railways. On 2 December 2007,the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL),another railway operator in Hong Kong,took over the operations of the KCR network under a 50-year service concession agreement,which can be extended. Under the service concession,KCRC retains ownership of the KCR network with the MTRCL making annual payments to KCRC for the right to operate the network. The KCRC's activities are governed by the KCRC Ordinance as amended in 2007 by the Rail Merger Ordinance to enable the service concession agreement to be entered into with the MTR Corporation Limited.
The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement,or Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) for short,is an economic agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China,signed on 29 June 2003. A similar agreement,known as the Mainland and Macau Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement,was signed between the Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region and the Central People's Government on 18 October 2003.
The Regional Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China depicts a white stylised five-petal Hong Kong orchid tree flower in the centre of a Chinese red field. Its original design was unveiled on 4 April 1990 at the Third Session of the Seventh National People's Congress. The current design was approved on 10 August 1996 at the Fourth Plenum of the Preparatory Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The precise use of the flag is regulated by laws passed by the 58th executive meeting of the State Council held in Beijing. The design of the flag is enshrined in Hong Kong's Basic Law,the territory's constitutional document,and regulations regarding the use,prohibition of use,desecration,and manufacture of the flag are stated in the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance. The flag of Hong Kong was officially adopted and hoisted on 1 July 1997,during the handover ceremony marking the handover from the United Kingdom back to China.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) are the trade offices of Hong Kong outside the territory. There are 14 HKETOs outside Hong Kong and China,and seven in China.
The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) is a government agency responsible for the protection of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region against smuggling;the protection and collection of revenue on dutiable goods on behalf of the Hong Kong Government;the detection and deterrence of drug trafficking and abuse of controlled drugs;the protection of intellectual property rights;the protection of consumer interests;and the protection and facilitation of legitimate trade and upholding Hong Kong's trading integrity.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is a department of the Hong Kong Government,reporting to the Environment and Ecology Bureau. It is responsible for food hygiene and environmental hygiene. It replaced part of the role of the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department,and the Regional Council and the Regional Services Department.
The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) is the legislative body responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong. The OFTA has liberalized all telecom sectors and there are no foreign ownership restrictions.
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.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office London is Hong Kong's representation in the United Kingdom. Apart from the United Kingdom,the Office is responsible for fostering trade and economic relations with countries including Denmark,Estonia,Finland,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,Russia and Sweden. The Office promotes bilateral trade with and investment in Hong Kong,updates the business communities and multiplier organisations on important developments in Hong Kong. It also organizes official visits,seminars and liaison events in the countries concerned,and acts as a hub to support investors from these countries in their search for business opportunities in Hong Kong and mainland China.
The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is a ministerial-level policy bureaux of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for the implementation of the Basic Law,including electoral matters and promotion of equal opportunities and privacy protection. The bureau also functions as the intermediary between the HKSAR Government and the Central People's Government and other Mainland authorities under the principles of "One Country,Two Systems",including the coordination of liaison between the HKSAR Government and Central authorities,promoting regional co-operation initiatives between Hong Kong and the Mainland,and overseeing the operation of offices of the HKSAR Government on the Mainland.
The Hong Kong Economic,Trade and Cultural Office is the representative office of Hong Kong in the Republic of China. Its counterpart body in Hong Kong is the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong.
The Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China in Beijing is the representative office of the Government of Hong Kong in the national capital Beijing.
Hong Kong–Thailand relations are bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Thailand.
Hong Kong–Indonesia relations are bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Indonesia.
The Companies Registry is a government department under the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong. Its responsibilities include the registration of Hong Kong companies and non-Hong Kong companies under the Companies Ordinance,open-ended fund companies under the Securities and Futures Ordinance and limited partnership funds under the Limited Partnerships Funds Ordinance. It administers the licensing regime for trust and corporate service providers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance as well as the licensing regime for money lenders under the Money Lenders Ordinance.
Algernon Yau Ying-wah is the current Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development in Hong Kong,appointed on 1 July 2022 as part of John Lee's administration.
