Is Hong Kong a free nation?

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and is an “inalienable part” of the country. Due to its special status, Hong Kong is able to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative, and independent judicial power.

Does Hong Kong still have freedom of speech?

In contrast to the rest of China, where control over media is pervasive, Hong Kong’s freedom of speech, of the press, and of publication are protected under Article 27 of the Hong Kong Basic Law and Article 16 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

How long is Hong Kong free?

Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom, ruled by a governor appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom, for 156 years from 1841 (except for four years of Japanese occupation during WWII) until 1997, when it was reverted to Chinese sovereignty.

When did Hong Kong get freedom?

In 1984, the British and Chinese governments signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration which stated that the sovereignty of Hong Kong should be transferred to the PRC on 1 July 1997, and Hong Kong should enjoy a “high degree of autonomy” under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.

What type of government is Hong Kong?

Under its constitutional document, the Basic Law, Hong Kong is an autonomous Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, except in defence and foreign affairs.

What type of government does Hong Kong have?

What freedoms does Hong Kong have?

These rights and freedoms include:

• equality before the law;
• permanent residents’ right to vote and to stand for election in accordance with law;
• freedom of speech, of the press and of publication;
• freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration;

Does Hong Kong have a government?

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, commonly known as the Hong Kong Government or HKSAR Government, refers to the executive authorities of Hong Kong SAR.

What economy does Hong Kong have?

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance – the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, is about four times GDP.

Is China cracking down on Hong Kong’s freedoms?

Beijing has been chipping away at Hong Kong’s freedoms since the handover, experts say. Over the years, its attempts to impose more control over the city have sparked mass protests, which have in turn led the Chinese government to crack down further.

Are Hong Kong’s problems caused by free-market laissez-faire?

A friend in Hong Kong responded to my query about the column with a wire explaining that Hong Kong’s problems, such as they are, aren’t the result of free-market laissez-faire, but of government interference. Until a year or two ago, Hong Kong had no minimum wage.

What is happening in Hong Kong?

In March 2019 the government of Hong Kong proposed a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. In response, the people of Hong Kong took to the streets in record-breaking numbers. On one day, 16 June, up to 2 million people marched peacefully in the streets of Hong Kong.

Does Hong Kong have universal suffrage?

Since the handover, there have been no free votes by universal suffrage for the chief executive, who is the head of the Hong Kong government. Instead, an election committee composed of representatives from Hong Kong’s main professional sectors [PDF] and business elite has selected them.