Hong Kong, China

"Hong Kong, China" (Chinese: 中國香港; Cantonese IPA: [tsoʊŋ₅₅ kwɔk₃₃ hœŋ₅₅ kɔŋ₃₅], Yale: jūng gwok hēung góng; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōngguǒ Xiānggǎng) is the designation that Hong Kong, a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, uses to join international organisations such as the World Trade Organization as member, and to take part in international sport events such as the Olympics, as prescribed by the Basic Law – the constitutional document of the territory.

Before the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1997, the crown colony of Hong Kong joined international organisations and participated in international sport events under the name "Hong Kong". After the transfer of sovereignty, according to the Basic Law, the special administrative region continues to have its own delegations and teams to the organisations (that are not restricted to sovereign states) and sport events, separate from those under names such as "China", "People's Republic of China" or "China PR", which represent the rest of the PRC other than Hong Kong (and Macau after 1999).

Background and relevant articles in the Basic Law

Since the PRC took over the China seat in the United Nations (UN) in 1972, replacing the Republic of China (ROC), under what designation the ROC may join international organisations which memberships are not restricted to sovereign states has become a question. The PRC opposes the ROC to join as "Republic of China" or "Taiwan", because of its position that the ROC or Taiwan is not another state (i.e. the One-China Policy). As a result, the ROC had to be (re)admitted to these organisations usually under the name Chinese Taipei. The PRC, however, has continued to call it "Taipei, China" (中国台北) to assert its claim that Taiwan is PRC's renegrade province.

When the Basic Law of Hong Kong was drafted, several articles were included to provide that Hong Kong can remain a separate member to international organisations which memberships are not restricted to sovereign states, under the designation of "Hong Kong, China", to reflect PRC's sovereignty over the territory.

The Article 116 of the Basic Law provides that Hong Kong remains a separate custom union and may join the World Trade Organization and enter into international trade agreements under the designation "Hong Kong, China".

The Article 149 and Article 151 provides that the territory may maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with foreign states and regions and relevant international organizations in fields including economic, trade, financial and monetary, shipping, communications, tourism, cultural and sport. Non-governmental organisations in fields such as education, science, technology, culture, art, sports, the professions, medicine and health, labour, social welfare and social work and religious organisations may maintain and develop relations with their counterparts in foreign countries and with relevant international organisations, with the name "Hong Kong, China".

Other relevant articles include 96, 114, 126, 133, 152, 153 and 155.

Until 2002, the territory has taken part in about 2000 intergovernmental conventions conferences that are not limited to sovereign states. The territory first played in the Olympic Games as "Hong Kong, China" in 2000, and in the Asian Games in 1998.

International organisations joined as "Hong Kong, China"

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (joined 1991 as Hong Kong, designation since 1997)
• Asian Development Bank (joined 1969 as Hong Kong, designation since 1997)
• International Olympic Committee (joined 1952 as Hong Kong, designation since 1997)
• World Trade Organization (joined 1995 as Hong Kong (founding member), designation since 1997)

Organisations with their names changed in 1997

• Handball Association of Hong Kong → Handball Association of Hong Kong, China
• Judo Association of Hong Kong → Judo Association of Hong Kong, China
• Hong Kong Rowing Association → Hong Kong, China Rowing Association
• Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong → Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

Organisations with their names remained

• The Hong Kong Football Association
• The Scout Association of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Table Tennis Association

See also

• foreign relations of Hong Kong
• Macao, China