Hong Kong's diplomatic relations and defence are the responsibility of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong has retained considerable autonomy in all aspects, including economic and commercial relations, customs control, except diplomatic relations and defence. Hong Kong continues to be an active, independent member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the name of Hong Kong, China. For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ... Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a group of Pacific Rim countries who meet with the purpose of improving economic and political ties. ...

Overview

Prior to the entering into force of The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 enacted by the United Kingdom Parliament, Hong Kong represented its interests abroad through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) and via a special office in the British Embassies (or High Commissioners), but the latter has ceased after reunification in 1997. At present, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices under the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in countries that are the major trading partner of the HKSAR, including Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the UK, Belgium (the EU), Switzerland and the US. These offices serve as the official representative of the HKSAR Government in these countries. 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 Government of Hong Kong also has set up the Hong Kong Tourism Board with offices in other countries and regions to promote tourism. Other countries, likewise, have set up consulates-general or consulates in Hong Kong that are subordinate to the embassy in China in Beijing. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) is the representation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China abroad. ... A High Commissioner is a person serving in a special executive capacity. ... A Special Administrative Region (SAR) (Simplified Chinese: 特别行政区; Traditional Chinese: 特別行政區; pinyin: tèbié xíngzhèngqū; Cantonese IPA: /tɐk6piːt6 hɐŋ4tsɪŋ3kʰɵy1/; Jyutping: dak6bit6 hang4zing3keoi1; Yale: dahkbiht hàhngjingkeūi) is a political subdivision of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The Government of Hong Kong has also an liaison office in Beijing, and an HKETO at Guangzhou, Guangdong. The PRC government also maintains a liaison office in Hong Kong. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a representative office in Hong Kong. Beijing   listen? (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Pei-ching; Postal System Pinyin: Peking) is the capital city of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Location within China CITIC Plaza Guangzhou fireworks display at night Guangzhou (Simplified Chinese: 广州; Traditional Chinese: 廣州; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kuang-chou; Jyutping: Gwong2zau1; Yale: GwóngjaÅ«) is the capital of the Guangdong Province in southern China. ... Guangdong (Simplified Chinese: 广东; Traditional Chinese: 廣東; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kuang-tung; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangtung or Canton Province, Jyutping: gwong2 dung1), is a province on the south coast of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Hong Kong makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people. Heroin or diamorphine (INN) (colloquially referred to as brown sugar, junk, babania, horse, golden brown, smack, black tar, H, big H, lady H, dope, skag, juice, jude, diesel,boy, etc. ... Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly psychologically addictive. ... Money laundering is the practice of engaging in financial transactions in order to conceal the identity, source and destination of the money in question. ...

Hong Kong has its own immigration policy, and issues its own passports. Residents of Hong Kong and mainland China need a passport-like document (the Home Return Permit and the exit endorsement) to cross the Hong Kong-mainland China border. Visitors from other countries and regions with no waiver programme are required to apply for visas directly through the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The Home Return Permit (港澳同胞回鄉證, 港澳同胞回乡证, abbreviation 回鄉證, 回乡证, officially known as 港澳居民来往内地通行证 for ID card-like permits), also known as home visit permit, is a national identity document issued to PRC citizens from Hong Kong and Macao as the entry permit to mainland China. ... In this map of China, the light-coloured areas represent Mainland China, while yellow coloured area refers to Taiwan. ... Border has several different, but related meanings: Generic borders A border can consist of a margin around the edge of something, such as a lawn, garden, photograph, or sheet of paper. ...

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, International Maritime Organization (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO APEC can also stand for Atlantic Provinces Economic Council Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a group of Pacific Rim countries who meet with the purpose of improving economic and political ties. ... The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a non-profit finance institution with many Asian governments as shareholder members who are also the recipients of funding where appropriate. ... The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is a financial international organization established under the Hague agreements of 1930. ... World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization that helps member states communicate and cooperate on customs issues. ... The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. ... Claiming 157 million members in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) came into being on December 7, 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). ... Headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation in Lambeth, adjacent to the east end of Lambeth Bridge Headquarters building taken from the west side of the Thames Headquartered in London, U.K., the International Maritime Organization (IMO) promotes cooperation among governments and the shipping industry to improve maritime safety and to... This article is about the International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol. ... Alternative meanings at IOC (disambiguation) The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece, and organize this sports event every four years. ... In other languages Iso means the following in other languages: Big in Finnish a Latin transliteration of the Greek ίσος, meaning equal. ... WCL is an initialism for World Confederation of Labour. ... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China

The foreign relations of the Peoples Republic of China draws upon traditions extending back to China in the Qing dynasty and the Opium Wars, despite China having undergone some radicial upheavals over the past two centuries. ...

Reference

• CIA - The World Factbook 2003

The World Factbook is an annual publication by the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ...

External Links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC
• Protocol Division of Hong Kong Government
• Office of the Commissioner of PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong
• Office of the Commissioner of PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao