Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Politics of Mega-Events in China's Hong Kong and Macao

Part of the book series: Politics and Development of Contemporary China ((PDCC))

  • 230 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter is composed of two parts. The first part is a historical retrospect regarding Hong Kong and Macao’s applications for the 1997 World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings and the 2005 East Asian Games (EAG) during the colonial era. It confirms that to realize the broader political goals of Beijing, London, and Lisbon, both the colonial and Chinese governments give all-out support to the projects. Based on the above findings, this book aims to explore the inter-nexus between politics and the two cities’ mega-events after the handovers. An elaboration of the research objectives is presented in the second part.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    One year after its formation, the Amateur Athletic Federation of Hong Kong enrolled with the IOC and was renamed as the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong. The organization, in 1952, also joined the Asian Games Federation, which was renamed as the OCA in 1985. Given so, the athletes of Hong Kong took part in all the Summer Olympics since 1952 and all the Asian Games since 1954 (Kwok, 2011, pp. 60–68 & 180–259). After the handover, the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong was renamed as the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Its duty of governing the local sportsmen to participate in the Olympics, the Asian Games, and other international sporting competitions continues.

  2. 2.

    To cease Taiwan being further isolated in the international society, Lee launched Pragmatic Diplomacy in 1988. It aimed not only to let Taiwan build official ties with the countries which had already formed diplomatic relations with China, but also to proactively raise its visibility on the world stage. Thus, holding international sporting mega-events in the major cities was a useful prescription (Chu, 2017, p. 1669).

  3. 3.

    In 1991, Samaranch also received the request of Gibraltar to join the IOC. Since this British overseas territory likely used the IOC recognition to support its appeal for independence, he decided to disapprove all the non-state regions’ membership applications in this round, including that of Macao (“MOC explains,” 1991).

References

  • 1997 WBG and IMF Annual Meetings will be staged in Hong Kong. (1994, August 24). Hong Kong Economic Times, A8 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • A major event in contemporary world history – Congratulating China and Britain to sign the Joint Declaration about Hong Kong issues. (1984, December 19) People’s Daily, 1 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Association backs Expo’ 97 Proposal. (1988, October 7). South China Moring Post, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Audit report: The fourth East Asian Games. (2006). Macao: Macao SAR Audit Commission (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Barboza, D. (2007, January 23). Macao surpasses Las Vegas as gambling center. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/business/worldbusiness/23cnd-macao.html

  • Baum, R. (1994). Burying Mao: Chinese politics in the age of Deng Xiaoping. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • China supports Macao to join IOC. (1991, September 12). Jornal Va Kio, 3 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinese national flag can be displayed at Taiwan. (1995, March 24). Jornal Va Kio, 11 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu, M. P. (2017). China in Taiwanese cities’ sporting mega-event bids: Fatal obstructer, neutral bystander and enthusiastic supporter. Sport in Society, 20(11), 1667–1683. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2017.1310200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chui, F. (2013). Policy address for the fiscal year 2013. Macao SAR Government. Retrieved from https://www.gov.mo/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/10/en2013_policy.pdf

  • Chung, S. Y. (2001). Hong Kong’s journey to reunification: Memoirs of Sze-yuen Chung. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clinton, B. (2004). My life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • COC Secretary General Wei Jizhong visits Macao. (1995, February 22). Jornal Va Kio, 11 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Commemorative book of Macao 2005 4th East Asian Games. (2006). Macao: Macao 4th EAG Organizing Committee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cradock, P. (1999). Experiences of China (New ed.). London: John Murray.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daswani, K. (1988, April 17). Industry back Expo’ 97 as means to illustrate stability. South China Moring Post, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimbleby, J. (1997). The last governor: Chris Patten and the handover of Hong Kong. London: Little, Brown and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fully support Beijing’s Olympic bid. (1992, July 13). People’s Daily, 1 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fung, N. (1994, July 14). Territory set to host IMF meeting in 1997. South China Moring Post, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Governor cautious on World Expo idea. (1988, April 15). South China Moring Post, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government challenged on Expo’ 97. (1988, October 15). South China Moring Post, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government slams door on Expo’ 97. (1988, November 2). South China Moring Post, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, A. (1988a, October 4). Expo ‘a potential goldmine’. South China Moring Post, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, A. (1988b, October 14). Hopes fade for hosting of Expo’ 97. South China Moring Post, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, E. (2005). Policy address for the fiscal year 2005. Macao SAR Government. Retrieved from https://www.gov.mo/en/content/policy-address/year-2005/

  • HK may be chosen as 1997 IMF venue. (1991, October 18). South China Moring Post, 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • HK to host annual IMF meeting just after transfer. (1994, August 24). South China Moring Post, 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, D. (1997, January 17). HK leads race for IMF Asia HQ. South China Moring Post, 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hui, J. (1997, July 29). $200m boost for Macau. South China Moring Post, 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • IMF mulls HK meeting. (1993, September 22). South China Moring Post, 67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, E. (2016). Great power rivalries: My experience in Sino-Europe relations and HK handover. Hong Kong: Open Page (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaohsiung intends to send delegation to visit mainland for seeking China’s support. (1995, April 1). Jornal Va Kio, 11 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kai Tak’s capability an obstacle to Expo hopes. (1988, June 14). South China Moring Post, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwok, S. E. (2011). 60 years of sporting excellence: The sports federation & Olympics Committee of Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong: Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lam, C. (2017). The Chief Executive’s 2017 policy address. Hong Kong SAR Government. Retrieved from https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2017/eng/pdf/PA2017.pdf

  • Lantos, T. (1993, May 27). H.Res.188 – To express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Olympics in the year 2000 should not be held in Beijing or elsewhere in the People’s Republic of China. US Congress. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-resolution/188?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Beijing+2000+Olympics%22%5D%7D&r=3

  • Lee, B. (1988, October 25). District members press for HK Expo. South China Moring Post, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (1993, June 19). 1997 Bank talks win approval. South China Moring Post, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, C. Y. (2013). The 2013 policy address, Hong Kong SAR Government. Retrieved from https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2013/eng/pdf/PA2013.pdf

  • Leung, S. (1988, April 13). Bid for World Expo to celebrate changeover. South China Moring Post, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, S., & Lee, T. (1988, October 27). China doubts plan for Expo. South China Moring Post, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang, L. (2007). He Zhenliang and China’s Olympic dream. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loh, C. (2011). Underground front: The Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, P., & Qian, Y. (2009). Lu Ping’s oral account on Hong Kong handover. Hong Kong: Joint Publishing (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Macao and Chinese Taipei Olympic Committees reach agreement. (1990, August 26). Jornal Va Kio, 2 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Macao been approved to join OCA. (1989, December 15). Jornal Va Kio, 14 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Macao representatives went to Monaco to attend International Sports Federation Association conference. (1998, October 13). Jornal Va Kio, 6 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Macao’s chance to join IOC appears. (1997 July 4). Macao Daily News, 20 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Major, J. (1999). John Major: The autobiography. London: Harper Collins Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendes, C. A. (2013). Portugal, China and the Macao negotiations, 1986–1999. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • MOC explains why its application to join IOC been rejected. (1991, August 26). Jornal Va Kio, 2 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreira, P. (1991, October 18). Playing host to the IMF a sensitive role for HK. South China Moring Post, 52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ocampo, R. (1992, September 24). China, UK back bid for World Bank meeting. South China Morning Post, 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Official report of proceedings. (1988, October 20). Hong Kong SAR LegCo. Retrieved from http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr88-89/english/lc_sitg/hansard/h881020.pdf

  • Olympic swimming stadium tender has been asked to submit. (1999, November 23). Jornal Va Kio, 3 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Patten, C. (2017). First confession: A sort of memoir. London: Allen Lane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quon, A. (1988, October 21). Governor says ExCo will make ruling on Expo’ 97. South China Moring Post, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samaranch says Macao’s application to join IOC will be discussed soon. (1995, May 4). Jornal Va Kio, 11 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group reaches agreements in the first day meeting. (1991, December 3). Jornal Va Kio, 5 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the War’s end. (1995, August 15). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved from https://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/pm/murayama/9508.html

  • Thatcher, M. (2011). The Downing Street years. London: Harper Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Too many question marks over Expo. (1988, October 8). South China Moring Post, 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsang, D. (2006). The 2006/2007 policy address. Hong Kong SAR Government. Retrieved from https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/06-07/eng/pdf/speech.pdf

  • Tsang, S. (2004). A modern history of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tung, C. H. (1999). The 1999 policy address. Hong Kong SAR Government. Retrieved from https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/pa99/english/espeech.pdf

  • Vogel, E. F. (2011). Deng Xiaoping and the transformation of China. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. (2017). Process of HK political development. Hong Kong: Chung Hwa Book Co. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei Jizhong pays whirlwind visit to Macao. (1995, February 22). Macao Daily News, 20 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Where is Mr. Hurd’s gentlemanship? (1993, September 18). China Sports Daily, 1 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, L. (1993, June 12). HK seeks to host main IMF event. South China Moring Post, 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu, E. (1997, May 24). IMF base goes to Tokyo. South China Moring Post, 35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, Y. (2000). Important events in Macao handover. Macao: Macao Foundation (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zong, D., & Zhou, N. (2007). Zhou Nan’s oral account. Hong Kong: Joint Publishing (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Political Science Department, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

    Marcus P. Chu

Authors
  1. Marcus P. Chu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcus P. Chu .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Chu, M.P. (2019). Introduction. In: Politics of Mega-Events in China's Hong Kong and Macao. Politics and Development of Contemporary China. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13868-4_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation