HONGKONG

Hong Kong, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and a true economic powerhouse, was once just a small fishing village on the edge of the South China Sea. That all changed in the mid-19th Century when the British arrived, turning this quiet, out-of-the-way village into a modern, vibrant and sparkling jewel of a city that still flourishes today.

In July of 1997, the British (via a long-standing agreement) officially returned control of Hong Kong to China, and it became a Special Administrative Region (or SAR) of China. In the exchange, China agreed that until 2047, Hong Kong (as is), will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters, except foreign and defense.