• Remained a British colony until 1997, when it was returned to communist China

• Capitalist economy – free markets, low taxation• Major world trading port and international

banking center• High export levels – textiles, toys,

electronics• Recently, more service industries

as manufacturing moved to mainland China

• Gov’t allocated funds for transportation, education, public housing and sanitation

• Ruled as British colony from 1842-1997• Handed over to communist China under the

policy of “one country, two systems”• Mainland China responsible for defense and

foreign affairs, Hong Kong has its own legal system, police, monetary system, delegates to int’l organizations and events

• Democracy – right to vote, legislative branch, judicial system, multi-party state

• Mix of British and Chinese culture• Education follows western models – public

schools run by the Department of Education• Diverse culture – Buddhist, Christian, Muslim,

Daoist• Movie-making industry – Bruce Lee, Jackie

Chan

• Was originally part of British colony of Malaysia

• Gained independence in 1959 (British naval base until 1971)

• Let by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew until 1990

• Successful economic development• Gov’t led plans combined with private

enterprises • Exports include electronics, textiles,

shipbuilding and oil refining• 2nd highest per capita in Asia and one of the

busiest ports in the world• Rate of growth has dropped more recently due

to competition with China

• Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew authoritarian• Tight controls justified because large

population crowded a limited space• Low crime rates due to harsh penalties• Economic changes have led to some

movements toward political freedoms• Current Prime Minister is Lee Hsien Loong

(Lee Kuan’s son)

• High population growth – one of the most densely populated countries

• Gov’t birth control policies in the late 1960s. By the 1990s, switched to a “baby bonus” scheme to encourage growth

• Government run “Ministry of Education” sets curriculum standards

• Gov’t owns and controls radio and TV stations• Mix of traditional and western culture – Buddhism,

Confucianism, Daoism with Christianity, architecture, sports