Special administrative regions of China

Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China 中華人民共和國的特別行政區 Regiões administrativas especiais da República Popular da China
Flag
Regional flags of Hong Kong and Macau SARs
Macau and Hong Kong in Pearl River Delta in southeastern China
Largest SAR/city		Hong Kong
Languages		Standard Chinese (in Traditional characters), English (in HK), Cantonese (de facto in HK and Macau), Portuguese (in Macau)
Demonym		Chinese
Special Administrative Regions		2 S.A.R.'s Hong Kong Macau
Government		One country, two systems
•	Head of State	Xi Jinping
•	Chief Executive of Hong Kong	CY Leung
•	Chief Executive of Macau	Fernando Chui
Area
•	Total	1,135.7 km2 438 sq mi
Population
•	2014[lower-alpha 1] estimate	7,858,800[1][2]
•	Density	6920/km2 17,922.7/sq mi
Currency		Hong Kong Dollar Macanese pataca
Date format		yyyy年m月d日 or yyyy-mm-dd or dd/mm/yyyy (CE; CE-1949)
↑ Second quarter

The special administrative regions (SAR; Portuguese: RAE) are autonomous territories that fall within the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China, yet do not form part of Mainland China. The legal basis for the establishment of SARs, unlike the administrative divisions of Mainland China, is provided for by Article 31, rather than Article 30, of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China of 1982. Article 31 reads: "The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary.^[3][4][5] 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".^[6]

At present, there are two SARs established according to the Constitution, namely the Hong Kong SAR and the Macau SAR, former British and Portuguese dependencies respectively,^[7] transferred to China in 1997 and 1999 pursuant to the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 and the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987 respectively. Pursuant to their Joint Declarations, which are binding inter-state treaties registered with the United Nations, and their Basic laws, the Chinese SARs "shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy."^[8] There is additionally the Wolong Special Administrative Region in Sichuan province, which is however not established according to Article 31 of the Constitution.

The provision to establish special administrative regions appeared in the constitution in 1982, in anticipation of the talks with the United Kingdom over the question of the sovereignty over Hong Kong. It was envisioned as the model for the eventual reunification with Taiwan and other islands, where the Republic of China has resided since 1949. Special administrative regions should not be confused with special economic zones, which are areas in which special economic laws apply to promote trade and investments.

Under the One China, Two Systems principle, the two SARs continue to possess their own governments, multi-party legislatures, legal systems, police forces, monetary systems, separate customs territory, immigration policies, national sports teams, official languages, postal systems, academic and educational systems, and substantial competence in external relations that are different or independent from the People's Republic of China.

List of special administrative regions of China

There are currently two special administrative regions established according to Article 31 of the Chinese Constitution. For the Wolong Special Administrative Region in Sichuan province, please see the section below.

Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Name	Chinese (T) / (S)	Yale	Pinyin	Postal map	Abbreviation	Population	Area km2	ISO	Admin. Division
Hong Kong	香港	Hēunggóng	Xiānggǎng	Hongkong	港 (Gǎng), HK, HKSAR	7,184,000	1,104.4	CN-91	List (18 districts)
Macau	澳門 / 澳门	Oumùhn	Àomén	Macao	澳 (Ào), MSAR, RAEM	614,500	31.3	CN-92	List (7 freguesias)

Characteristics

The two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau (created in 1997 and 1999 respectively) each have a codified constitution called Basic Law.^[7] The law provides the regions with a high degree of autonomy, a separate political system, and a capitalist economy under the principle of "one country, two systems" proposed by Deng Xiaoping.^[7]

High degree of autonomy

Currently, the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macau are responsible for all affairs except those regarding diplomatic relations and national defense.^[9] Consequently, the National People's Congress authorizes the SAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power,^[10] and each with their own Courts of Final Appeal.^[11]

External affairs

Special administrative regions are empowered to contract a wide range of agreements with other countries and territories such as mutual abolition of visa requirement, mutual legal aid, air services, extradition, handling of double taxation and others. In diplomatic talks involving a SAR, the SAR concerned may send officials to be part of the Chinese delegation. In sporting events the SARs participate under the respective names of "Hong Kong, China" and "Macau, China", and compete as different entities.^[12]

Defense and military

The People'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.^[13] In 1988, scholar Chen Fang of the Academy of Military Science even tried to propose the "One military, two systems" concept to separate the defence function and public functions in the army.^[13] 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 as natural disasters. Defence is the responsibility of the PRC government.^[9]

A 1996 draft PRC law banned People's Liberation Army-run businesses in HK, but loopholes allow them to operate while the profits are ploughed back into the military.^[13] There are many PLA-run corporations in Hong Kong. The PLA also have sizable land-holdings in Hong Kong worth billions of dollars.^[13]

Immigration and nationality

Each of the SARs issues passports on its own to its permanent residents who are concurrently nationals of the PRC. PRC nationals must also satisfy one of the following conditions:

• born in the SAR;
• born anywhere while either parent was a permanent resident of the SAR;
• resided continuously and legally for seven or more years in the SAR.

Apart from affording the holder consular protection by the People's Republic of China, these passports also specify that the holder has right of abode in the issuing SAR.

The National People's Congress has also put each SAR in charge of administering the PRC's Nationality Law in its respective realms, namely naturalization, 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, United Kingdom citizenship or Portuguese citizenship), however residents of Chinese descent have always been considered as Chinese citizens by the PRC. Special interpretation of the Nationality Law, while not recognizing dual 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 to mainland China and the holder may not enjoy consular protection while in mainland 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.

Comparisons

Body	Hong Kong	Macau		China (Central Government only)
Constitutional Document	Hong Kong Basic Law	Macau Basic Law		Constitution of the PRC
Final Authority of Constitutional Interpretation & Review	NPC Standing Committee	NPC Standing Committee		NPC Standing Committee
Head of State / Territory	Chief Executive of Hong Kong	Chief Executive of Macau		President of the PRC
Head of Government	Chief Executive of Hong Kong	Chief Executive of Macau		Premier of the State Council
Executive	Executive Council of Hong Kong	Executive Council of Macau		State Council
Legislative	Legislative Council	Legislative Assembly		National People's Congress (NPC); NPC Standing Committee
Judiciary	Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong	Court of Final Appeal of Macau		Supreme People's Court
Legal Supervisory or Prosecution	Department of Justice	Public Prosecutions Office		Supreme People's Procuratorate
Police Force(s)	Hong Kong Police (part of Hong Kong Disciplined Services)	Public Security Police; Judicial Police (parts of Macau Security Force)		People's Police (of Public Security, State Security, Justice, Court and Procuratorate systems); People's Armed Police
Military	PLA Hong Kong Garrison	PLA Macau Garrison		People's Liberation Army (PLA); People's Armed Police
Currency	Hong Kong dollar	Macanese pataca		Renminbi (Chinese yuan)
Official Language(s)	Chinese & English	Chinese & Portuguese		Standard Chinese (Putonghua)
Foreign relations	limited under "Hong Kong, China"	limited under "Macau, China"		full rights
Principal Agency in Foreign Affairs	Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commissioner Office in Hong Kong	Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commissioner Office in Macau		Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Passport	Hong Kong SAR passport	Macau SAR passport		PRC passport
Passport Issuing Authorities	Immigration Department	Identification Services Bureau		Ministry of Public Security; Ministry of Foreign Affairs/diplomatic missions (and local government Foreign Affairs Offices)

Offer to Taiwan and other ROC-controlled areas

The status of a special administrative region for Taiwan and other areas controlled by the Republic of China was first proposed in 1981.^[7] The 1981 proposal was put forth by Ye Jianying called "Ye's nine points" (葉九條).^[14] A series of different offers have since appeared. On 25 June 1983 Deng Xiaoping appeared at Seton Hall University in the US to propose "Deng's six points" (鄧六條), which called for a "Taiwan Special Administrative Region" (台灣特別行政區).^[14] It was envisioned that after Taiwan's unification with the PRC as an SAR, the PRC would become the sole representative of China.^[14] Under this proposal, Taiwan would be guaranteed its own military,^[14] 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.^[14] While there would be minimal interference by the PRC in Taiwan's political system, there may be representatives from the Taiwan SAR that would be appointed to the central government in Beijing by the Taiwan SAR.

In 2005 the Anti-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.^[15] The PRC can also employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to defend its claims to sovereignty over the ROC's territories from Taiwanese independence activists.^[15]

Wolong

The Wolong Special Administrative Region^[16] (Chinese: 卧龙特别行政区; pinyin: Wòlóng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū) is located in the southwest of Wenchuan 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 Sichuan Wolong 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 5343.^[16]

Despite its name, the Wolong Special Administrative Region is not an SAR as defined by Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China; as a result, it has been proposed the Wenchuan Wolong Special Administrative Region of Sichuan Province change its name, with designations such as special area or township.^[17]

History

ROC special administrative regions

In the Republic of China (ROC) when it governed Mainland China, "special administrative regions" (Chinese: 特別行政區; pinyin: tèbié xíngzhèngqū) were historically used to designate special areas, most of which were eventually converted into provinces. All were suspended or abolished after the end of the Chinese Civil War, with the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the ROC government's retreat to Taiwan. The regions were:

Chahar SAR

Chahar was made a special administrative region in 1914 by the Republic of China, as a subdivision of the then Zhili Province, with 6 banners and 11 counties. In 1928 it became a province, with 5 of its counties partitioned to Suiyuan, and 10 counties were included from Hebei.

Notes

References

See also

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Provincial-level divisions of the People's Republic of China Provinces Anhui Fujian Gansu Guangdong Guizhou Hainan Hebei Heilongjiang Henan Hubei Hunan Jiangsu Jiangxi Jilin Liaoning Qinghai Shaanxi Shandong Shanxi Sichuan Taiwan¹ Yunnan Zhejiang Autonomous regions Guangxi Inner Mongolia Ningxia Tibet Xinjiang Municipalities Beijing Chongqing Shanghai Tianjin Special administrative regions Hong Kong¹ Macau¹ Note: Taiwan is claimed as a province, but is administered by the Republic of China (see Political status of Taiwan). Hong Kong and Macau are claimed as provincial-level divisions, but as listed on the constitutional documents and joint declarations their statuses are better to be interpreted as first-level divisions instead.