Hong Kong`s Economic Path and Its Strategic Value for China and Britain, 1946-56: A Rational-Strategic Approach

Abstract

Hong Kong`s growth and prosperity as a British colony alongside a strongly anti-imperialist China appears paradoxical. Yet, this paradox reveals the fundamental rational-strategic relations that existed between China and Britain in the Cold War era and how they influenced Hong Kong`s economic development. Thus, this article uses a rational-strategic approach in examining Hong Kong`s unique characteristic as a strategic arena with different meanings for different agents. Its main theme is contextualizing the colony`s economic path and domestic economic policy orientation by relating them with the rational considerations of the Chinese and British governments.