Hong Kong

**Hong Kong,** officially the **Free City of Hong Kong,** is a city in Eastern Asia and was jurisdictively part of Neo-Europe as an autonomous territory, and now an exclave under the control of its successor state, the Human Commonwealth.

## History

### Origins

Following Hong Kong's declaration of independence in 2037, the state felt weak and was afraid to act in foreign conflicts. After suffering economic troubles in the early 2040s, they were desperate for international aid. Emperor of Neo-Europe, Wolfgang Von Stuttgart, saw the opportunity; he dispatched several diplomats to the island to discuss possible options. Eventually, an agreement was settled: Hong Kong would become a vassal state of Neo-Europe, with powers to make its own laws and have separate diplomatic relations, and international representation. On the other hand, Neo-Europe would be able to freely use the island's docks and would trade tariff-free. In addition, Hong Kong would have to pay a 'national tax' to Neo-Europe (roughly 25% of its annual GDP) in exchange for other services run by the Empire, including its protection by Neo-European armed forces. While GUASS continued to claim the island, the likes of Emperor Wolfgang frequently refuted this claim as they supposedly vanquished all claims on the island when they permitted its independence.

### 2112 Change in Status

In 2112, its status was officially changed from a Vassal State to a self-governing territory within Neo-Europe. Very little in terms of governance actually changed, though travel between Hong Kong and Neo-Europe-proper was facilitated and the Neo-European Pound became the state's currency. Leaders were still referred to as Presidents.

### Third World War

During the Third World War, the island suffered a deadly siege at the hands of GUISS, though the siege's effects were softened by the discovery of huge underground storages of preserved food. Minor acts of aggression continued, including the poisoning of the water supply and internet blackouts.

## Demographics

### Ethnicities

The majority (70%) of Hong Kongers can be considered Han Chinese, 10% elsewhere in Asia (Principally Korea, Japan, Indochina, India), 15% various European ethnicities (Mainly British, Prussian and Francian), and the remaining 5% having other ethnicities, such as the Middle East (Arabs), Central Asia (Turkic peoples) and Africa. While mostly gone, remnants still remain of a social quasi-apartheid system, with White Europeans at the top, followed by Han Chinese, then the rest below. This can still be seen in how those of a European ethnicity, at 15%, still make up around 30% of government.

### Languages

Cantonish, a natural convergence of Cantonese and Anglisch, is spoken, or at least understood, by the vast majority of people in the city state. However, it has no official status. Anglisch is the language of law, government, and serves as the lingua franca. Other langauges, such as more traditional dialects of Cantonese, and ethnic languages such as Korean and Unified Turkic, are spoken in smaller clusters.

### Religion

Hong Kong is overwhelmingly irreligious, with over 80% claiming no religious affiliation in the 2280 Census. The rest include adherents of the Three Teachings (at 11%), Christians (3%), Muslims (4%) and other (2%) such as Tekinites, Uberlebanists, and Doharists. Most people who claim to be religious do so in a very private manner; most inhabitants consider it strongly taboo to disclose such information nowadays.

## Culture

Hong Kong, while moving on from the traditional Chinese culture, retains several aspects of it, and has done more in preserving it than the Socialist State of China (SSC).

### Cuisine

Traditional Hong Kong food remains popular, and is the most common variety of Chinese food found throughout Neo-Europe. Throughout Hong Kong, noodle bars and steamed bao cafes are commonplace.

### Drinks

Teas, of various sorts, are frequently consumed, usually in-between meals.

### Film and Television

Actors from Hong Kong are often scouted by film studios throughout Neo-Europe, where they are often typecast as various east Asian ethnicities, from Chinese, to Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Mongol.

## Science and Technology

Several of Neo-Europe's most prominent scientists came from Hong Kong.

## Relationships

Relations with the two 'Other Chinese States' vary:

### Socialist State of China

Especially in early years, Hong Kong wished to distance itself from the state, seeing itself as a wholly separate identity., Many Hong Kongers felt personally attacked by SSC's predescessor, the People's Republic of China, in how it attacked Hong Kong's democracy and personal freedoms throughout the 2020s.

Today, the two nations have little in the way of cooperation.

### Formosa

Hong Kong and Formosa have always had a fraternal relationship, united in how they were mistreated by the larger PRC/SSC. Their parallel lives continue today, with both ultimately being controlled by European powers.