What was hong kong

This page will give you the facts about Hong Kong - from the form of government to the languages used. It enshrines within a legal document the important concepts of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's political system and way of life remain unchanged for 50 years. The rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong are based on the impartial rule of law and an independent judiciary.

Hong Kong's economy is characterised by free trade, low taxation and minimum government intervention. It is the world's 8th largest trading economy, with the mainland of China as its most significant trading partner. Hong Kong is also a major service economy, with particularly strong links to mainland China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

Hong Kong provides two types of public holidays: statutory and general holidays. Statutory holidays are mandated under the Employment Ordinance and must be provided to all employees.

General holidays include every Sunday, all statutory holidays and an additional 5 holidays. He or she may serve for not more than two consecutive terms. The operation mechanisms of this economic system are mainly manifested in the fields of finance, banking, trade, industry and commerce, real estate, shipping and civil aviation. For instance, in accordance with the law, the HKSAR shall protect the property rights of individuals, and shall have independent finances, using its financial revenues exclusively for its own purposes.

The financial revenues shall not be handed over to the Central Government. The Central Government shall not levy taxes in the HKSAR; the HKSAR shall practice an independent taxation system and a low-tax policy, and shall enact laws on its own concerning types of taxes, tax rates, tax reductions, allowances and exemptions, and other matters of taxation.

The HKSAR shall maintain its status as an international financial center, work out its monetary and financial policies on its own, and safeguard the free operation of financial business and the financial market. The Hong Kong dollar shall continue to be freely convertible. Markets for foreign exchange, gold, securities, futures and the like shall continue to operate.

The HKSAR shall maintain its status as a free port, adopt the policy of free trade, and safeguard the free movement of goods, intangible assets and capital. The HKSAR shall maintain its status as an international shipping center and may, on its own, stipulate the concrete functions and responsibilities in this field.

The HKSAR shall maintain its status as an international and regional aviation center, and shall be responsible for the daily work and technological management of civil aviation.

The controversial law reduces Hong Kong's judicial autonomy and makes it easier to punish demonstrators and activists. It criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Since it was enacted more than people - including protesters, pro-democracy politicians and journalists - have been arrested under its provisions.

Beijing insists that the law is needed to bring stability to the city, but critics say it violates the "one country, two systems" principle under which the former British colony was handed back to China. The one thing many Hong Kongers do agree on however, is that in the year since the law was enacted, life has fundamentally changed. We spoke to seven of them to find out how. Names have been changed where indicated to protect identities.

It allowed holders of British National Overseas , or BNO, passports, which were issued to Hong Kong residents before - when Hong Kong was handed back to China - to apply for a special type of visa that puts them on a fast track to settlement and citizenship.

Sander decided to move to Manchester under the scheme when he opted to resign instead of taking an oath that would require all civil servants to swear allegiance to the Hong Kong government. He says he was worried that civil servants would have to carry out political tasks against their conscience to serve an increasingly authoritarian government. Sander is grateful for the opportunity to start a new life in the UK, but says there are new challenges and difficulties.

Both documents are essential in job-seeking. He spent two months looking for jobs, but didn't hear back from anyone. Sander says he misses Hong Kong, especially food like beef brisket noodles. But he is pessimistic about its political future and isn't even sure he will ever visit. A vocal supporter of the police, every day she wears a blue t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "I love Hong Kong police".

Ms Lee says her pro-police stance led to a massive drop in business during the pro-democracy protests. The police were accused of using disproportionate force against protesters and were viewed as "traitors" by the pro-democracy movement. Protesters also filed a slew of complaints against her business, which meant that for days the only people who went there were government officials investigating complaints related to food hygiene, fire safety and even tax compliance.

The situation took a toll on her family life too. Her son, whom she had raised alone since he was four, told her he no longer loved her because she supported the police.

She credits the national security law with changing things for the better, saying that young people who protested had been exploited. If there were protests or protesters blocked the streets again, young people could get easily excited.

But now nothing is happening, so that atmosphere is gone. My son also focuses on working and other areas of his life. Because I have spent so much time at court, we have built trust. So they are willing to talk to me," she said. We were total strangers before the court proceedings. The homemaker had little idea about court proceedings or legal jargon when she started attending sessions a year-and-a-half ago.