Highlighting the differences, connections, and the complexities of the relationship between China and Hong Kong.
July 1997. Ownership of Hong Kong returned to China.
Governmental Structure
China is best interpreted as the relationship between Mainland China and Hong Kong. The state operates under the one party two system rule due to the implementation of British colonial rule. In 1841 Hong Kong was officially created as a colony that would serve as the basis of British trade and influence regarding China and other Eastern states. Subsequent to 1841, Mainland China and Hong Kong underwent different institutional paths. The establishment of mass industrialization and the residual decline of absolute monarchy gave rise to higher rates of democracy within England and thus Hong Kong, as a recipient of British structuralization. Hence, the two systems. Mainland China has survived a host of economic depressions and social catastrophes that has pushed the state towards centralization. The communist party, and specifically the current president at the helm, Xi Jinping, unilaterally controls the Chinese military, courts, economy, and social stratosphere. Hong Kong, with more democratic institutions, enjoys more economic and social agencies provided by Basic Law within the Hong Kong constitution. In 1997 England transferred ownership over Hong Kong back to Mainland China, thus the one party. While Hong Kong is represented by Mainland China both militarily and within foreign relations, Hong Kong has significantly less stringent censorship laws, less financial regulation, and higher opportunity for everyday citizen participatory government.
The Economy
China and Hong Kong’s economies differ in many ways; however, they remain remarkably intertwined. Hong Kong’s economy is characterized by low tax rates, free trade, and less government interference. On the other hand, China’s economy is deeply influenced by its communist government, making it much more restrictive. Additionally, China’s economy is the second largest in the world, which relies heavily on industry development and has recently grown due to consumer demands. Hong Kong has the second freest economy in the world and remains a capitalist system with independent finance and taxes from mainland China. Even though their systems are starkly different from each other, their economies rely heavily on one another. China is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner and agreements like the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which was signed in 2003, has supported tariff free trade between the two countries and fostered their interdependence. Throughout the history of twisted diplomatic relations between China and Hong Kong, their economic ties have remained strong. Importantly, Hong Kong plays an important role in China’s economic growth, which is one of the central reasons for why China is deeply invested in Hong Kong’s development and happenings.
Culture
Culture is also unique in Hong Kong compared to a large part of China and other East Asia countries, which is strongly connected to China’s Guangdong province near it. Cantonese culture is the mainstream culture of Hong Kong. Being colonized by the British means that English is the official language the same as Mandarin, but Cantonese that originated in Guangdong dominates most of Hong Kong people’s lives. The writing system in Hong Kong is similar to the mainland, they both use Chinese characters, but Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese, which is also used in Taiwan. Hong Kong culture is related mainly to traditional Chinese culture. Although it was colonized by the British, Hong Kong still retains many traditional cultures and customs that disappeared in the mainland after the prohibition once during Mao’s leadership. Hong Kong is also famous for Cantonese cuisine that you can find everywhere. Because of the connection with the Western world, Hong Kong uses its advantage to become one of the most developed places in filmmaking. Films and performers from Hong Kong influence the Western world as well as help the development of this industry in other Chinese-speaking regions.
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