Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China | |
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  Regional flags ofHong Kong andMacau | |
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| Official languages |
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| Official script | |
| Demonyms |
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| Special Administrative Regions | |
| Government | One country, two systems |
| Xi Jinping | |
| Li Qiang | |
| Zhao Leji | |
| Ding Xuexiang | |
| Xia Baolong | |
| John Lee Ka-chiu | |
| Sam Hou Fai | |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,870.27 km2 (1,108.22 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2014[a] estimate | 7,858,800[1][2] |
• Density | 6,920/km2 (17,922.7/sq mi) |
| Currency | Hong Kong dollar(Hong Kong, Macau) Macanese pataca(Macau) |
| Date format | |
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| Special Administrative Region(s) of the People's Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中華人民共和國特別行政區 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 中华人民共和国特别行政区 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CantoneseYale | Jūng'wàh Yàhnmàhn Guhng'wòhgwok Dahkbiht Hàngjingkēui | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Postal | Chunghwa Jenmin Kunghokuo Tepieh Hsingchengchu | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Portuguese name | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Portuguese | Regiões Administrativas Especiais da República Popular da China | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Administrative divisions of China |
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Analogous county level units Management areas Management committee |
Analogous township level units Management areas Management committee Farms area (Overseas Chinese Farm Region [zh]),Prison area,University towns, etc. |
(Grassroots Autonomous Organizations) Villages · Gaqa · Ranches Residential Committees |
History:before 1912,1912–49,1949–present Administrative division codes |
Thespecial administrative regions (SAR)of the People's Republic of China are one of four types ofprovince-level divisions of thePeople's Republic of China directly under the control of itsCentral People's Government (State Council). As a region, they possess the highest degree ofautonomy from China's central government. However, despite the relative autonomy that the Central People's Government offers the special administrative regions, theNational People's Congress and itsStanding Committee remain capable of enforcing laws for the special administrative regions.[3]
The legal basis for the establishment of SARs, unlike the otheradministrative divisions of China, is provided for by Article 31, rather than Article 30, of theConstitution of China of 1982. Article 31 reads: "The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in the light of the specific conditions".[4][5][6][7]
At present, there are two SARs established by the Constitution:Hong Kong andMacau. These former British and Portuguese territories were transferred to China in 1997 and 1999 respectively, following theSino-British andSino-Portuguese Joint Declarations signed in 1984 and 1987, respectively.[8] Pursuant to their Joint Declarations, which are bindinginter-state treaties registered with theUnited Nations, and theirBasic laws, the Chinese SARs "shall enjoy a high degree ofautonomy".[9] Generally, the two SARs are not considered to constitute a part ofmainland China, by both SAR and mainland Chinese authorities.
The provision to establish special administrative regions appeared in the constitution in 1982, in anticipation of the talks with theUnited Kingdom over the question of the sovereignty of Hong Kong. It was envisioned as the model for the eventualunification withTaiwan and other islands, where theRepublic of China has resided since 1949.
Under theone country, two systems principle, the Chinese Central Government is responsible for the diplomatic, military and other state-level affairs of the two SARs. Both two SARs continue to possess their ownmulti-party legislatures,legal systems,police forces,separate customs territory,immigration policies,left-hand traffic,[10]official languages, academic andeducational systems, representation on certain international bodies and representation in international competitions, and other aspects that fall within the autonomous level.
Special administrative regions should not be confused withspecial economic zones, which are areas in which special economic laws apply to promotetrade andinvestments. TheWolong Special Administrative Region inSichuan province is anature reserve and not a political division.
There are currently two special administrative regions established according to Article 31 of the Chinese Constitution. For theWolong Special Administrative Region inSichuan Province, please see the sectionWolong below.
| Name | Chinese (T) / (S) | Yale | Pinyin | Postal map | Abbreviation andGB | Population | Area km2 | ISO | ISO:CN | Admin. Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hong Kong | 香港 | Hēunggóng | Xiānggǎng | Hongkong | 港 (Gǎng), HK, HKSAR | 7,184,000 | 1,104.4 | HK | CN-HK | List (18districts) |
 Macau | 澳門 /澳门 | Oumùhn | Àomén | Macao | 澳 (Ào), MO, MC, MSAR, RAEM | 614,500 | 31.3 | MO | CN-MO | List (8freguesias) |
The two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau (created in 1997 and 1999 respectively) each have a codified constitution calledBasic Law.[8] The law provides the regions with a high degree of autonomy, a separate political system, and acapitalist economy under the principle of "one country, two systems" proposed byDeng Xiaoping.[8]
Currently, the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macau are responsible for all affairs except those regarding diplomatic relations and national defence.[11] Consequently, theNational People's Congress authorises the SAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial powers,[12] and each with their ownCourts of Final Appeal.[13]
Special administrative regions are empowered to contract a wide range of agreements with other countries and territories such as mutual abolition ofvisa requirement, mutual legal aid, air services,extradition, handling ofdouble taxation and others, with noChinese government involvement. However, in some diplomatic talks involving a SAR, the SAR concerned may choose to send officials to be part of the Chinese delegation. For example, when formerDirector of Health of Hong KongMargaret Chan became theWorld Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, she served as a delegate from thePeople's Republic of China to the WHO.
At the same time they are members of various international organisations such as WTO, APEC, etc.
TheGovernment of Hong Kong andGovernment of Macao have establishedHong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) andDelegação Económica e Comercial de Macaus (DECMs) respectively in some countries, as well as in theGreater China Region. HKETOs serve as a quasi-interests section in favour ofHong Kong. DECMs serve as a quasi-interests section in favour ofMacao. For regions with no HKETOs and DECMs,Chinese diplomatic missions take charge of protecting Hong Kong-related and Macau-related interests.
Some countries which havea diplomatic relationship with the central Chinese government maintainConsulate-General offices in Hong Kong and Macau.
In sporting events such as theOlympic Games orAsian Games, the SARs may have their own independent teams. They participate under the respective names of "Hong Kong, China" and "Macau, China", and compete as different entities[16] as they had done since they were under foreign rules, but both SARs are usually allowed to omit the term ", China" for informal use.[citation needed]
ThePeople's Liberation Army is garrisoned in both SARs. PRC authorities have said the PLA will not be allowed to interfere with the local affairs of Hong Kong and Macau, and must abide by its laws.[17] In 1988, scholar Chen Fang of theAcademy of Military Science even tried to propose the "One military, two systems" concept to separate the defence function and public functions in the army.[17] The PLA does not participate in the governance of the SAR but the SAR may request them for civil-military participation, in times of emergency such asnatural disasters. Defence is the responsibility of the PRC government.[11]
A 1996 draft PRC law bannedPeople's Liberation Army–run businesses in Hong Kong, butloopholes allow them to operate while theprofits are ploughed back into the military.[17] There are many PLA-run corporations in Hong Kong. The PLA also have sizeableland holdings in Hong Kong worth billions of dollars.[17]
Each of the SARs issues passports on its own to its permanent residents who are concurrentlyChinese (PRC) citizens. PRC citizens must also satisfy one of the following conditions:
Apart from affording the holder consular protection by theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, these passports also specify that the holder has right of abode in the issuing SAR.
TheNational People's Congress has also put each SAR in charge of administering thePRC's Nationality Law in its respective realms, namelynaturalisation, renunciation and restoration of PRC nationality and issuance of proof of nationality.
Due to their colonial past, many inhabitants of the SARs hold some form of non-Chinese nationality (e.g.British National (Overseas) status,British citizenship,British Overseas citizenship orPortuguese citizenship). However, SAR residents who are Chinese descent have always been considered as Chinese citizens by the PRC authorities, an exception to this case is Macau, wherein residents of Chinese descent may choose Chinese or Portuguese nationality. Special interpretation of the Nationality Law, while not recognisingdual nationality, has allowed Chinese citizens to keep their foreign "right of abode" and use travel documents issued by the foreign country. However, such travel documents cannot be used to travel tomainland China and persons concerned must useHome Return Permit. Therefore,master nationality rule applies so the holder may not enjoy consular protection while in China. Chinese citizens who also have foreign citizenship may declare a change of nationality at the Immigration Department of the respective SARs, and upon approval, would no longer be considered Chinese citizens.
SAR permanent residents who are not Chinese citizens (includingstateless persons) are not eligible for SAR passports. Persons who hold a non-Chinese citizenship must obtain passports from foreign diplomatic missions which represents their countries of citizenship. For those who are stateless, each SAR may issue its own form ofcertificates of identity, e.g.Document of Identity, in lieu of national passports to the persons concerned. Chinese citizens who are non-permanent residents of two SARs are also ineligible for SAR passports but may obtain CIs just like stateless persons.
The status of a special administrative region forTaiwan and other areas controlled by theRepublic of China (ROC) was first proposed in 1981.[8] The 1981 proposal was put forth by NPC chairmanYe Jianying called "Ye's nine points" (葉九條).[18] A series of different offers have since appeared. On 25 June 1983Deng Xiaoping appeared atSeton Hall University in the US to propose "Deng's six points" (鄧六條), which called for a "Taiwan Special Administrative Region" (台湾特別行政区).[18] It was envisioned that after Taiwan's unification with the PRC as an SAR, the PRC would become the sole representative of China.[18] Under this proposal, Taiwan would be guaranteed its own military,[18] its own administrative and legislative powers, an independent judiciary and the right of adjudication, although it would not be considered a separate government of China.[18]
In 2005 theAnti-Secession Law of the PRC was enacted. It promises the lands currently ruled by the authorities of Taiwan a high degree of autonomy, among other things.[19] The PRC can also employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to defend its claims to sovereignty over the ROC's territories in the event of an outright declaration of independence by Taiwan (ROC).[19]
In January 2019, the 40-year anniversary of a statement made by the PRC to Taiwan in 1979,Chinese Communist Partygeneral secretaryXi Jinping outlined in a speech how the "one country, two systems" principle would be applied to Taiwan.[20] Several major points from the speech include:[20]
TheWolong Special Administrative Region[21] (Chinese:卧龙特别行政区;pinyin:Wòlóng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū) is located in the southwest ofWenchuan County,Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan. It was formerly known as Wolong Special Administrative Region of Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province and was founded in March 1983 with approval of the State Council. It was given its current name and placed under Sichuan provincial government with administrative supervision by the provincial department of forestry. Its area supersedes SichuanWolong National Nature Reserve and its administrative office is the same as the Administrative Bureau of the State Forestry Administration for the reserve. It currently has a population of 5,343.[21]
Despite its name,the Wolong Special Administrative Region is not an SAR as defined by Article 31 of theConstitution of China.[citation needed] This is primarily because the Wolong Special Administrative Region was established with the approval of the State Council, rather than "by law enacted by the National People's Congress" as stipulated in Article 31 of the Constitution.[22]
In theRepublic of China (ROC) era between 1912 and 1949, the "special administrative regions" (Chinese:特別行政區;pinyin:tèbié xíngzhèngqū) were historically used to designate special areas by theBeiyang government, most of which were eventually converted intoprovinces by theNationalist government in 1928. All were suspended or abolished after the end of theChinese Civil War, with the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the ROC government'sretreat toTaiwan, but they continued to exist as provinces under ROC law.[citation needed] The regions were:
| Name | Chinese | Pinyin | Created | Became province | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suiyuan | 綏遠 | Suíyuǎn | 1914 | 1928 | Part ofInner Mongolia |
| Chahar | 察哈尔 | Cháhā'ěr | 1914 | 1928 | Distributed intoInner Mongolia,Beijing andHebei |
| Jehol | 熱河 | Rèhé | 1914 | 1928 | Distributed intoHebei,Liaoning andInner Mongolia |
| Chwanpien | 川边 | Chuānbiān | 1914 | 1935(asXikang Province) | WesternSichuan and easternTibet Autonomous Region |
| Tungsheng | 東省 | Dōngshěng | 1924 | Land along theChinese Eastern Railway, now part ofHeilongjiang | |
| Weihai | 威海 | Wēihǎi | 1930 | Part ofShandong | |
| Hainan | 海南 | Hǎinán | 1944 | In preparation in 1949 | Hainan Province since 1988 |
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