Hong Kong » International Relations

Membership of International Groupings/Organisations International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) World Tourism Organisation (WTO)

Britain’s signature of the Joint Declaration provides the basis for Britain’s continuing interest in, and commitment to, the special arrangements for the protection of Hong Kong’s way of life. The Foreign Secretary regularly reports to Parliament on the implementation of the Joint Declaration.

There are about 3.6m British passport-holders in Hong Kong. The majority (3.44m) are British Nationals Overseas) (BN(O)s). This form of British nationality accords visa-free access to the UK for short visits but no right of abode in the UK. BN(O) passport holders enjoy British consular protection when in third countries (and, in the case of non-Chinese BN(O) passport holders, in Hong Kong and Mainland China).

The UK and Hong Kong authorities have developed close co-operation on law enforcement issues, including customs, drugs and illegal immigration. There are also close links between the British and Hong Kong legal communities.

Britain has a clear stake in Hong Kong's continuing prosperity and Hong Kong remains a key market for UK Trade & Investment. Britain is the second largest European leading foreign investor in Hong Kong with total British investment estimated to be worth some £4 billion. Hong Kong is Britain's second largest Asian market. Just under 20% of British exports to Mainland China also pass through Hong Kong and many British companies use Hong Kong as a base for their operations in China and the rest of the region. In the other direction, some 80% of all Hong Kong investment in Europe is in Britain.