France–Hong Kong relations
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France–Hong Kong relationsrefers tointernational relationsbetweenFranceandHong Kong.
History
[edit]
France and Hong Kong bilateral relations could be traced back to the period of theSecond French Empire(1852 to 1870). Hong Kong had been a British colony since theFirst Opium War.In 1856, a Frenchmissionary,FatherAuguste Chapdelaine,was executed by Chinese local authorities inGuangxi province,which at that time was not open to foreigners. As a response, the French Empire joined with the British navy and prompted theSecond Opium War.As a result of the victory of the joint navy, theQing EmpirecededKowloon Peninsularto theBritish Empireas an extension of the colony of Hong Kong.[1]
The French Consulate General Hong Kong inAdmiralty, Hong Konghas been the representation of France in Hong Kong.[2]The consul to Hong Kong was first appointed by decree from EmperorNapoleon IIIin 1862.[3]The connection between the two continued when the United Kingdom retreated from Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, Hong Kong had full autonomy in relations with foreign countries in a broad range of appropriate fields.[4]TheHong Kong Economic and Trade OfficeinBrusselsis responsible for the European Union and covering also the relations with France and other nations.
Trade
[edit]France is Hong Kong's seventh largest export destination in Europe, while Hong Kong is France's sixth largest export destination in Asia. As at 2015, the value of exports from Hong Kong to France was worth US$1.01 billion, while the exporting goods from France to Hong Kong was worth US$5 billion. Major exports from Hong Kong to France areintegrated circuits(14.2%),semiconductor devices(7.94%), broadcasting equipment (7.91%), and jewellery (12%).[5]Major exports from France to Hong Kong are trunks andcases(18.2%), planes, helicopters, and/or spacecraft (16.2%),wine(7.82%), and beauty products (5.12%).[6]
Over 600 French companies are operating in Hong Kong, among which 73 French companies established regional headquarters in Hong Kong, while another 109 had regional offices.[7]
Social and Cultural
[edit]French investment is substantial in Hong Kong, with the total stock of direct investment amounted to US$8.4 billion. Reflecting France's diverse activities, 2600 French nationals resided in Hong Kong as at 2016.[8]TheAlliance Française de Hong Konglocated inWan Chai,Shatin,andJordan, Hong Kongare found to promote French culture and language in Hong Kong.[9]
Both France and Hong Kong have offered "Working HolidayPrograms ". The program allows 750 youngsters to holiday in France or Hong Kong and to take temporary employment as needed to cover the expenses of their visit.[10]
High Level Visits
[edit]To Hong Kong
[edit]- 7-8 March 2013 MsFleur Pellerin,Deputy Minister in charge of SMEs, Innovation and the Digital Economy
- 26-27 April 2013 MrPierre Moscovici,Minister for the Economy and Finance
- 5-6 May 2013 MrLaurent Fabius,Minister for Foreign Affairs
- 25-26 February 2016 MrMichel Sapin,Minister of Finance and Public Accounts
- 24-25 May 2016 MrMatthias Fekl,Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Promotion of Tourism and French Abroad
To France
[edit]- 31 May 2013 MrGregory So,Secretary for Trade and Economic Development
- 20-21 November 2013 MrJohn Tsang,Secretary of Finance, participation in the Paris Europlace - HKMA joint forum on the internationalization of the renminbi; interview with P. MOSCOVICI, Minister of Economy and Finance
- 28-29 October 2014 Mr John Tsang, Secretary of Finance; talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development and with Mr. Matthias FEKL, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Promotion of Tourism and French Abroad
- 6 July 2015 MrWong Kam-sing,Secretary for the Environment
- 7-9 June 2016 MrLeung Chun-ying,Hong Kong Chief Executive[11]
- 15-21 June 2018 MsCarrie Lam,Hong Kong Chief Executive[12]
Incidents
[edit]1884 Anti-France Strike and Riot
[edit]Hong Kong dock workers inWhampoa Dock,Hung Homstarted an anti-France strike on 11 September 1884 in order to protestFrench involvementinIndochina,South China Sea,andTaiwan.The workers involved were arrested by theRoyal Hong Kong Policeand fined by the court. That was followed by ariotstarting on 3 October. Negotiation between the government and the protesters eventually resulted in the return of the fine to the workers. The long term strike and riot affected French fleet's reparation and supply. French faced several military setbacks in Indochina and Taiwan in late 1884 and early 1885, but ended up with a diplomatic success with the recognition of French protectorate overAnnamandTonkinin theTreaty of Tientsinconcluded on 9 June 1885.[13][14]
2014 Umbrella Movement
[edit]In Fall 2014, Hong Kong had seen a large scale protest, theUmbrella Movement,in striving for full democracy in Hong Kong. TheFrench Foreign Ministryexpressed that the ministry was "closely following" street demonstrations in Hong Kong and emphasizedHong Kongese's right to march peacefully. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal expressed in the news conference, "We are closely following the evolution of the situation and we reiterate our attachment to the right to demonstrate peacefully".[15]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^David, Saul(2007).Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire.London:Penguin Books.pp. 360–61.ISBN978-0-14-100555-3.
- ^France in Hong Kong
- ^French Consulate in Hong Kong
- ^"Hong Kong Basic Law Chapter VII: External Affairs".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-08.Retrieved2017-09-13.
- ^What does France import from Hong Kong? (2019),retrieved 22/07/2021
- ^What does France export to Hong Kong? (2019),retrieved 22/07/2021
- ^France: Market Profile,retrieved 13/9/2017.
- ^France: Market Profile,retrieved 13/9/2017.
- ^About Alliance Française de Hong KongArchived2019-05-15 at theWayback Machine,retrieved 13/9/2017.
- ^Working Holiday Scheme,retrieved 13/9/2017.
- ^La France et Hong Kong,France Diplomatie, retrieved 14/09/2017.
- ^France and Hong KongMinistry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, retrieved 22/07/2021
- ^Tsui Sing Yan,The History of Hong Kong in 12 Books,Hong Kong: Red, 2014, p.125.
- ^Thomazi, A.,La conquête de l'Indochine,Paris: 1934, pp.189-192.
- ^"Hong Kong protests: France 'closely following' situation, stresses right to protest peacefully".The Straits Times.30 September 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2014.Retrieved3 October2014.
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