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Australia-Hong Kong relationship
Australia has extensive and enduring interests in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Australian Government supports Hong Kong's "high degree of autonomy" under Chinese sovereignty as provided for by the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and in accordance with China's policy of observing "one country, two systems".
Australia's policy toward Hong Kong is underpinned by its substantial commercial interests, and by the presence of a large Australian community living in Hong Kong. Australia's commercial interests in Hong Kong are extensive and range from banking, accounting, legal, engineering and information technology services to retail and general trading. Some 50,000 Australians are resident in Hong Kong, while around 450 Australian companies are based here, and a further 1,000 Australian companies have representative offices.
According to the 2001 Census in Australia, 67,000 residents, or 0.4 per cent of the population of Australia were born in Hong Kong. They have mostly settled in New South Wales (56 per cent) and Victoria (24 per cent). Hong Kong is Australia's fourth largest source of international students and Australia is the major overseas destination for Hong Kong students. In 2005 Hong Kong accounted for 21,184 student enrolments in Australian education institutes.
The breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship is reflected in high level visits from Australia to Hong Kong in recent years. These included visits by Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, in August 2006; Governor-General His Excellency Major General, Michael Jeffery, in October 2005; Small Business and Tourism Minister, Fran Bailey, in January 2005; Mr Downer in August 2004; Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, in April 2004 and Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Minister, Amanda Vanstone, in April 2004.
Major visits from Hong Kong to Australia were made by Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Joseph Wong, in September 2006; Secretary for Security, Ambrose Lee in August 2006; Financial Secretary, Henry Tang, in May 2006; Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in September 2005; Director-General of Trade and Industry, Raymond Young, in April/May 2005; Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Stephen Ip, in November 2004 and Secretary for Education and Manpower, Arthur Li, in May 2004.
The Australian Consulate-General represents the Australian Government in Hong Kong. In Australia, the Hong Kong SAR is represented through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office based in Sydney. Economic Relations