ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the development of sport policy in two ‘special’ regions of China: Hong Kong and Macau. While pertaining to the Chinese sovereignty, Hong Kong and Macau enjoy a high degree of autonomy including in relation to sports affairs. The retention of the capitalist system and the substantial colonial heritage, combined with increased interaction with Mainland China after the handovers in the late 1990s, birthed the unique pathways to sport development in these two Special Administrative Regions (SARs), which remain largely unknown to both domestic and international audiences. In this chapter, Hong Kong and Macau’s, to some extent, unique political systems in particular their relationships with Mainland China under the Basic Law and ‘One Country, Two Systems’ formula, government involvement in sport and its sports organisational structure and funding are introduced. In addition, their policy priorities and the balance between elite sport, the hosting of sporting events and mass sport and elite sport achievements are analysed. Emerging issues including Hong Kong’s divisive national mood regarding the relationship with the Beijing government and the impact on sport development are also elaborated. Moreover, a comparison of the main characteristics of sport policy development and policy priorities between Hong Kong and Macau is conducted.
