How to Do Business in 12 Asian Countries 5. What will you need to know in 2010 or 2020 to work in Asia? As Hans Koehler pointed out in his Preface, we live in changing times. In this century China and India are changing the economic balance of the world. But many of the cultural tenets presented in Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Asia took hundreds or thousands of years to develop. These stable precepts help us understand why people behave differently around the world, and they will help you to avoid global marketing faux pas | Hong Kong 17 New Territories. Hong Kong remained a British colony for most of the twentieth century. British rule was interrupted only during the Second World War when the Japanese occupied Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945. After Mao Tse-tung s Communist forces took control of China in 1949 Hong Kong along with Portugal s colony of Macao became one of the only points of contact between China and the West. As the People s Republic of China consolidated its power it became increasingly clear that the United Kingdom could not keep the People s Liberation Army from overrunning Hong Kong. After long negotiations the United Kingdom agreed to give Hong Kong back to China. 1 he People s Republic of China promised to respect the laws of Hong Kong under a policy of one country two systems. The United Kingdom handed over its colony of Hong Kong to the People s Republic of China in 1997. Type of Government It is useful to remember that Hong Kong has never known selfrule. It was a colony of the United Kingdom from 1842 to 1997 only at the end of that period did the British allow the formation of a locally elected body the Legislative Council . the Legco . The governor of Hong Kong was always appointed by London. The former British colony is now the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region SAR part of the People s Republic of China which has an authoritarian Communist government. To date the chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR has been chosen by 800 electors all of whom have been appointed by Beijing. The term of office of the chief executive is five years. Current government data can be found at the Embassy of China at . Cultural Note The British picked Hong Kong Island for its natural deep-water harbor not for its weather. Hong Kong has a tropical monsoon climate. The best time to visit is during the fall when it is warm and sunny. It is cool and humid in the winter. Spring and summer are hot and rainy. 18 Kiss Bow or Shake Hands Asia Language The .
