Special administrative region facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China
中華人民共和國特別行政區 (Chinese)
中华人民共和国特别行政区 (Chinese) Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó tèbié xíngzhèngqū (Pinyin) Jūngwàh Yàhnmàhn Guhngwòhgwok dahkbiht hàngjingkēui (Cantonese Yale romanisation) Regiões administrativas especiais da República Popular da China (Portuguese) |
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  Regional flags of Hong Kong and of Macau |
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| Largest SAR/city | Hong Kong |
| Languages | Standard Chinese (in Traditional characters), English (in HK), Cantonese (de facto in HK and Macau), Portuguese (in Macau) |
| Demonym(s) | Chinese |
| Special Administrative Regions | |
| Government | One country, two systems |
| Xi Jinping | |
| Li Keqiang | |
| Li Zhanshu | |
| Area | |
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• Total
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1,135.7 km2 (438.5 sq mi) |
| Population | |
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• 2014 estimate
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7,858,800 |
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• Density
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6,920/km2 (17,922.7/sq mi) |
| Currency | Hong Kong dollar Macanese pataca |
| Date format | |
| special administrative region(s) | |||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 特別行政區 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 特别行政区 | ||||||||||||
| Cantonese Yale | Dahkbiht Hàngjingkēui | ||||||||||||
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| Portuguese name | |||||||||||||
| Portuguese | regiões administrativas especiais |
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Special Administrative Regions (SARs) are unique areas in Mainland China. They have their own governments, which are different from the main government of China. This means they have a lot of freedom in how they run things.
There are two SARs: Hong Kong and Macau. Both of these places used to be European colonies. They were given back to China in the 1990s.
What Makes SARs Special?
When Hong Kong and Macau became part of China, a special rule was made. This rule is found in Article 31 of China's Constitution. It allows these areas to have different laws and systems compared to the rest of China. This is why they are called "Special Administrative Regions."
The "One Country, Two Systems" Idea
The way Hong Kong and Macau are governed is often called "One country, two systems." This idea was created by Deng Xiaoping, a former leader of China. It means that:
- There is one country: China.
- But there are two systems: Hong Kong and Macau use their own laws and ways of governing, instead of the Communist system used by the main Chinese government.
This special arrangement was made to help people in Hong Kong and Macau feel comfortable with the change. It allowed them to keep many of their freedoms and their way of life.
