A ray of light

Hong Kong, a ray of light shining out from communist China? The former British colony became a special administrative region of China in 1997, when Britain's 99-year lease of the New Territories, north of Hong Kong island, expired.

Hong Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover.

Hong Kong's constitution, the Basic Law, provides for the development of democratic processes. However, Beijing can veto changes to the political system and pro-democracy forces have been frustrated by what they see as the slow pace of political reform.

China controls Hong Kong's foreign and defence policies, but the territory has its own currency and customs status.

Hong Kong's economy has moved away from manufacturing and is now services-based. The region is a major corporate and banking centre as well as a conduit for China's burgeoning exports. Its deepwater port is one of the world's busiest.

Our first view of Hong Kong, with the ICC building glowing like a beacon from Kowloon. At 484m, the International Commere Centre (ICC) is Hong Kong's tallest building