Special administrative regions of China
Sub-provincial autonomous prefectures
Leagues Aimag abolishing
Provincial-controlled counties
Ethnic districts
Autonomous banners
Wolong Special Administrative Region
Workers as well as peasants districts
Subdistricts Subdistrict bureaux
County-controlled districts County-controlled district bureaux obsolete
Management committees
Areas
Villages · Gaqa · Ranches Village Committees
Autonomous administrative divisions
History: before 1912, 1912–49, 1949–present
The Special Administrative Regions SAR of the People's Republic of China are one of the Central People's Government State Council, being National People's Congress retains capable of enforcing laws for the special administrative regions.
The legal basis for the setting of SARs, unlike the other Constitution of the People's Republic of China of 1982. Article 31 reads: "The state may defining special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in the light of the particular conditions".
At present, there are two SARs established according to the Constitution, namely the Hong Kong SAR & the Macau SAR, former British and Portuguese dependencies, respectively, transferred to China in 1997 and 1999, respectively, pursuant to the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 and the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987. Pursuant to their Joint Declarations, which are binding inter-state treaties registered with the United Nations, and their Basic laws, the Chinese SARs "shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy". Generally, the two SARs are not considered to survive a component of Mainland China, by both SAR and mainland Chinese authorities.
The provision to establish special administrative regions appeared in the constitution in 1982, in anticipation of the talks with the United Kingdom over the impeach of the sovereignty over Hong Kong. It was envisioned as the framework for the eventual reunification with Taiwan and other islands, where the Republic of China has resided since 1949.
Under the one country, two systems principle, the Chinese Central Government is responsible for the diplomatic, military and other state-level affairs of the two SARs. But two SARs progress to possess their own multi-party legislatures, legal systems, police forces, separate customs territory, immigration policies, left-hand traffic, official languages, academic and educational systems, description oninternational bodies and version in international competitions, and other aspects that falls within the autonomous level.
Special administrative regions should not be confused with special economic zones, which are areas in which special economic laws apply to promote trade and investments. The Wolong Special Administrative Region in Sichuan province is a family preserve, and not a political division.