Hong Kong is one of the most exciting cities in the world, keeping pace with the likes of New York, Tokyo and London. This former British colony has, since the 1997 handover, been a “Special Administrative Region” (SAR) of China operating under a different set of regulations from the mainland. Neighboring Macau, also a city-state and known mainly for its casinos, became an SAR in 1999 after its handover from Portugal which colonized the city since 1557.
Long-known as a nexus of Far Eastern commerce and the Asian base of many multinational corporations, Hong Kong has emerged as “Asia’s World City” featuring world-class hotels, dining, architecture, culture and the arts. Hong Kong is a major center of the vibrant Asia contemporary art scene, and is home to many fine galleries and collections. Hong Kong is a gateway city for China and the rest of Asia through its massively efficient airport, with one of the world's busiest passenger terminals.