This document provides information on Hong Kong, Singapore, and China: Hong Kong remained a British colony until 1997 when it was returned to China. It has a capitalist economy and is a major world trading port. Singapore gained independence from Malaysia in 1959 and has experienced successful economic development led by the government and private enterprises. China was ruled as a British colony until 1997 and is now ruled under a "one country, two systems" policy, with mainland China responsible for defense and foreign affairs while Hong Kong maintains its own legal and economic systems.

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

2. • 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

3. • 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

4. • 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

5. • 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

6. • 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

7. • 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)

8. • 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