Hong Kong–Macau relations

Hong Kong and Macau are located at the east and the west sides of the Pearl River Delta respectively, with a close distance of about 64 kilometres in between. Hong Kong and Macau bilateral relations could be traced back to the Middle Neolithic. Both Hong Kong and Macau were under the influence of the same type of Neolithic culture. Tools and ornaments used by both places show tight relationship in idea and trade between the two. Hong Kong became the first European colony in East Asia for being occupied by the Portuguese Empire as Tamão in the early 16th Century. The Portuguese were defeated by the Ming Empire in Hong Kong in 1521, and eventually took Macau as their settlement at the Pearl River Estuary as a replacement. Macau had stood long as the most important European entrepot in East Asia since the 17th Century. Only until Hong Kong fell into the British hands in the early 1840s, Macau faced regional competition from a more opened and free British Colony. Since then, Hong Kong and Macau competed and cooperated for being the commercial centres in the Pearl River Estuary. Eventually Hong Kong developed as one of the busiest entrepots and financial centres while Macau became a world gambling capital. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

As at 2015, Macau is Hong Kong's second largest export destination, occupying 6.1% of Hong Kong's total exports.[7] The amount of export totaled USD 8.4B, with broadcasting equipment, jewelry, and precious metal watches as the major products. [8] On the other hand, Hong Kong is Macau's largest export destination.[9] Totaled USD 774M, with precious metal watches, jewelry, trunks and cases as the major trading products, the exports to the Hong Kong forms 53% of Macau's total exports.[10]

While tourism is one of the pillars of both economies, Hong Kong and Macau contribute notable proportion of tourists for each other. While Macau is known as the gaming capital of the world and heavily relies on tourism,[11][12][13] Hong Kong is the second major source of tourists of Macau. In 2013, 6,766,044 Hongkongers had accounted for near one-fourth of Macau's total visitor arrivals.[14] On the other hand, while Hong Kong is the world's most popular tourist destination,[15][16] Macau is the sixth visitor source market of Hong Kong, just after the Mainland China, Taiwan, United States, and Japan.[17]

Agreement on The Transfer of Sentenced Persons was signed between Hong Kong and Macau in May 2005. As a result, sentenced persons of the two territories with their respective citizenship would be transferred back to their place of origin.[18]

Despite of the close connection of the two jurisdictions, there are no extradition treaties or agreements signed between Hong Kong and Macau. Charged with committing a crime or convicted of a crime whose punishment has not yet been fully served in either jurisdiction would not be transferred by authorities of one jurisdiction to those of another at the request of the latter for the purpose of prosecution or punishment, respectively.[19]

Simplified HK-Macau Immigration Clearance Set was established on 9 December 2009. Citizens are eligible to use their identity cards to travel between the two regions without furnishing arrival and departure cards.[20] However, after the Umbrella Movement, some Hong Kong pro-democrats councillors are barred from entering Macau. Hong Kong Democratic Party legislative councillor Dr Helena Wong Pik-wan on 29 August 2017, Hong Kong NeoDemocrats district councillor Kwan Wing-yip on 30 August 2017, Civic Party district councillor Andy Yu Tak-po on 3 September 2017 were denied entry into Macau. The spokesman of Civic Party urged Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to express their concerns with Macau and demand an explanation.[21]