Foreign relations of Hong Kong: Difference between revisions

{{more citationsfootnotes needed|date=February 2013}}

{{Politics of Hong Kong|expanded=Foreign relations}}

Under the [[Hong Kong Basic Law|Basic Law]], the [[Hong Kong]] [[Special administrative regions of China|Special Administrative Region]] is {{Citation needed span|text=exclusively|date=July 2024}} in charge of its [[Autonomous entity|internal affairs]] and external relations, whilst the [[CentralGovernment People'sof GovernmentChina|PRCcentral government]] of [[China]] is responsible for its [[diplomacy|foreign affairs]] and [[Military|defence]].<ref>Article 151, [[Hong Kong Basic Law]]</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The source cited says nothing on the topic.|date=July 2024}} 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''.<ref>Article 152, [[Hong Kong Basic Law]]</ref> Hong Kong participates in 16 projects of [[United Nations]] [[Sustainable Development Goals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnership/search/?str=hong+kong|title=Search - United Nations Partnerships for SDGs platform|website=sustainabledevelopment.un.org}}</ref>

Hong Kong has its own immigration policy and administration. [[Hong Kong permanent resident|Permanent resident]]s of Hong Kong with PRC nationality hold a different type of passport, called the [[Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport]], which is different from that for PRC citizens in [[Mainland China]].<ref>Article 154, [[Hong Kong Basic Law]]</ref> Hong Kong permanent residents and mainland Chinese need a passport-like document (the "[[Home Return Permit]]" for Hong Kong permanent residents and the [[Two-way Permit]] for Mainland Chinese) to cross the Sino-boundary between mainland China and Hong Kong border. Visitors from other countries and regions not participating in waiver programme are required to apply for visas directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

[[File:HKETO-London.JPG|thumb{{main|Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London]]#Locations}}

[[File:HKETO SF front-London.JPG|thumb|Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco[[London]].]]

Hong Kong was under [[colonial Hong Kong|British rule]] before 1 July 1997. Prior to the implementation of the ''Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996'' enacted by the [[United Kingdom Parliament|British Parliament]], Hong Kong represented its interests abroad through the [[Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office]]s (HKETOs) and via a special office in the British Embassies or High Commissions, but the latter ceased after the sovereignty of Hong Kong was [[transfer of the sovereigntyHandover of Hong Kong|transferred to the PRC]] and became a special administrative region (SAR) of the PRC in 1997.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/63/contents Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996]</ref> At present, the ''Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices'' under the [[Hong Kong Government|Government]] of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in countries that are the major trading partners of Hong Kong, including [[Japan]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]], [[Indonesia]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]], the [[United States]], the [[European Union]] as well as an ETO in [[Geneva]] to represent HKSAR Government in the [[WTO]]. These offices serve as the official representative of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR in these countries and international organisations. Its major functions include facilitating trade negotiations and handling trade related matters, inter-government relations with foreign governments; the promoting of investment in Hong Kong; and liaising with the media and business community. The Hong Kong Government has also set up the [[Hong Kong Tourism Board]] with offices in other countries and regions to promote tourism.<ref>Article 156, [[Hong Kong Basic Law]]</ref>

* [[Mainland China]]（ ([[Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement|CEPA]]）（June) (June 2003）2003)

* [[New Zealand]]（March 2010）(March 2010)

* [[Chile]]（September 2012）(September 2012)

* [[Iceland]]（October 2012）(October 2012)

* [[Liechtenstein]]（October 2012）(October 2012)

* [[Switzerland]]（October 2012）(October 2012)

* [[Norway]]（November (November 2012)

* [[Macao]]（October 2017）(October 2017)

* [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]（June 2018）(June 2018)

* [[Australia]]（March 2019）(March 2019)

* [[ASEAN]]：Ten ASEAN countries（Junecountries 2019）(June 2019)

* [[Maldives]]（Negotiations completed）(negotiations completed)

* Hong Kong participates in 41 intergovernmental international organizationsorganisations with countries as participating units.

*[[World Trade Organization]] (Since 1991)

The [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong]] & other senior officials often make a duty visit to foreign countries. These visits usually aim to advance Hong Kong's economic and trade relations with the foreign countries. During these visits, the Chief Executive will meet with political and business leaders. Usually, the [[head of state]] or [[head of government]] of the foreign countries will receive the Chief Executive. For example, former Chief Executive [[Tung Chee-hwa]] made three visits to the United States during his term. In these three visits, Tung Chee-hwa met with the [[U.S.US President]] in the [[Oval Office]] at the [[White House]]. Chief Executive [[Donald Tsang]] had visited Japan, South Korea, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, India, France and other countries during his term of government.

The Protocol Division Government Secretariat is responsible for liaising with the large consulate groups of various countries stationed in the Hong Kong and providing host government services to these consular groups.The Protocol Division Government Secretariat also represents Hong Kong government to receive national leaders and international organizationsorganisations visiting Hong Kong, and plan and coordinate official visits to Hong Kong by members of the foreign royal family and senior government leaders.

As of November 2005, the Hong Kong Government has received more than 60 foreign heads of state, government and senior ministers for official visits to Hong Kong. Leaders who have visited Hong Kong include [[Canadian Prime Minister]] [[Justin Trudeau]], [[Singaporean Prime Minister]] [[Lee Hsien Loong]], [[Russian President]], [[President of Panama]], [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]], [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]], [[Prime Minister of Vietnam]], [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]], [[Dmitry Medvedev]], and [[British Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]].

[[File:HK British Consulate Justice Drive 1.JPG|thumb|]]The British Consulate General in Hong Kong

[[File:HK US Consulate General.jpg|thumb|]]U.S.US Consulate General in Hong Kong]]

Most countries maintain Consulates-General or Consulates in Hong Kong. However, despite their name, many Consulates-General are not subordinate to their country's embassy to the PRC in Beijing. For example, the British Consulate-General is directly subordinate to the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] of the UK rather than the British embassy in the Chinese capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmfaff/649/64907.htm|title=House of Commons - The UK's relations with Hong Kong: 30 years after the Joint Declaration - Foreign Affairs|first=The Committee Office, House of|last=Commons|website=publications.parliament.uk}}</ref> The Consul-General of the United States, likewise, holds ambassadorial rank, and reports to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs in the US Department of State.<ref>[http://www.ait.org.tw/en/pressrelease-pr1224.htm Christopher J. Marut Appointed as Director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan]{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[American Institute in Taiwan]], May 8, May 2012</ref> By contrast, the US Consuls-General posted to Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang report to the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Beijing who is directly subordinate to the US ambassador.

** [[Foreign relations of the People's Republic of ChinaMacau]]

* [[Hong Kong-UnitedKong–United Kingdom relations]]

* [[Hong Kong – UnitedKong–United States relations]]