Special administrative regions of China

Special administrative regions of China
Name	Special Administrative Regions
Category	One country, two systems
Territory	People's Republic of China
Start date	1 July 1997 (Hong Kong), 20 December 1999 (Macau)
Government	Executive-led government
Subdivision	Hong Kong, Macau

Special administrative regions of China. They are first-order administrative divisions under the direct administration of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, enjoying a high degree of autonomy under the principle of "One country, two systems". Established to facilitate the peaceful transfer of sovereignty of territories formerly under European administration, these regions maintain separate legal, economic, and social systems distinct from Mainland China. The constitutional basis for their status is enshrined in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and detailed in their own Basic Law.

Overview

The concept was formulated by Deng Xiaoping during negotiations over the future of Hong Kong with the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. This framework was subsequently applied to Macau in negotiations with Portugal. The primary intent is to preserve the existing capitalist economies and way of life in these regions for a prolonged period after their handovers. The Central People's Government handles foreign affairs and defense, while the special administrative region governments exercise executive, legislative, and independent judicial power.

Establishment and legal basis

The establishment of each special administrative region is enacted by a decision of the National People's Congress. The legal foundation is dual, stemming from both the national constitution and a region-specific Basic Law, which functions as a mini-constitution. For example, the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law provided the blueprint for Hong Kong's transition. Similarly, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Macau Basic Law governed the transfer of Macau. These basic laws stipulate that the socialist system and policies shall not be practiced in the special administrative regions for 50 years after their establishment.

List of special administrative regions

Currently, there are two special administrative regions: the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, established on 1 July 1997 after the end of British Hong Kong, and the Macau Special Administrative Region, established on 20 December 1999 following the end of Portuguese Macau. Each is headed by a Chief Executive selected under the provisions of its Basic Law. The possibility of applying the model to Taiwan in a future unification has been proposed by officials in Beijing.

Autonomy and governance

The special administrative regions exercise a high degree of autonomy, including independent administrative power, legislative power, and power of final adjudication. They maintain their own legal systems, largely based on English common law in Hong Kong and Portuguese civil law in Macau. The governments issue their own postage stamps and maintain separate immigration controls. Key officials such as the Chief Executive, principal officials of the executive authorities, and the presidents of the Court of Final Appeal are appointed by the Central People's Government upon local selection or recommendation.

Relationship with the Central People's Government

While enjoying autonomy, the special administrative regions are subordinate to the central authority. The State Council is responsible for their foreign affairs and defense. The Central People's Government also has powers of interpretation and amendment of the Basic Law. The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government serves as the central government's official agency in each region. In extreme circumstances, such as a state of war or turmoil, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress can declare a state of emergency, allowing the central government to enact relevant national laws in the region.

Economy and society

Both Hong Kong and Macau operate as separate customs territories and maintain their own currencies, the Hong Kong dollar and the Macanese pataca. They are members of international organizations like the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in their own right. Hong Kong is a major global financial centre, while Macau's economy is dominated by tourism and gambling. They preserve distinct social characteristics, with Cantonese being a primary language alongside official recognition of English in Hong Kong and Portuguese in Macau.

Category:Special administrative regions of China Category:Administrative divisions of China Category:One country, two systems