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Hong Kong Essay

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Hong Kong

The region of Hong Kong, which had long been a haven for coastal pirates was occupied by the British during the Opium War (1839-42). The colony prospered as an east-west trading center, the commercial gateway to, and distribution center for, South China. It was efficiently governed, and its banking, insurance, and shipping services quickly became known as the most reliable in Southeast Asia. In 1921 the British agreed to limit the fortifications of the colony, and this contributed to its easy conquest by the Japanese. It was reoccupied by the British on Sept. 16, 1945.

After 1949, when the Communists took control of mainland China, hundreds of thousands of refugees crossed the …show more content…

The crackdown in 1989 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing inspired fears that China would not respect Hong Kong's autonomy, and in the next few years many business people left, affecting Hong Kong's economy. In 1991, Hong Kong's first direct legislative elections were won almost entirely by liberal, pro-democracy candidates, and no pro-China candidates were elected.

In 1992, Britain introduced a number of democratic measures, which were denounced by China. Talks between the two countries proved pointless, and in 1994 Hong Kong's legislature approved further democratic reforms in the colony still going against Chinese ideology. In the 1995 elections prodemocracy candidates received about 60% of the popular vote. Upon Hong's return to China, Beijing abolished the legislature set up by the British and established a provisional legislature; a chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, was also appointed. Elections were held in 1998, with prodemocracy parties taking 16 of the 20 directly elected seats. Hong Kong was affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, but its economy began to rebound in 1999. In the Sept. 2000 legislative council elections, prodemocracy parties won 15 of the 24 directly elected seats.

Hong Kong Demography: People, Languages and Culture

Situated at the

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